Behavior

Behavioral time budgets

In a radio-telemetry study in central Panama, Streak-chested Antpittas (n = 4) were observed foraging ca 67% of the time (98/147 observations), preening/resting 31% of the time (46/147 observations), and vocalizing 2% of the time (3/147 observations).

Locomotion

Streak-chested Antpitta is primarily terrestrial; it usually advances with hops, but on occasion it runs for a short distance, in the manner of a thrush (Turdus) (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Foraging

See 'Food capture and consumption' in the Food section above.

Self-maintenance

Undescribed.

Agonistic behavior

Undescribed.

Territory size

There are no data on territory or home range size for Streak-chested Antpitta.

Territorial behavior

Undescribed.

Mating system, mate choice and sex ratio

Streak-chested Antpitta presumably is at least socially monogamous, as two adults attend the nest (see Reproduction), but its mating system has not been studied in detail.

Pair bond

No information.

Courtship display

Undescribed.

Extra-pair copulations

No information.

Like many insectivorous bird species that inhabitat the Neotropical forest understory, Streak-chested Antpittas have small, stable territories (see Territoriality) and are generally found alone or in pairs. In a radio-telemetry study in central Panama, Streak-chested Antpitta individuals (n = 4) were observed alone 71% of the time (86/121 observations) and with a mate 29% of the time (35/121 observations). Although interspecific interactions are not common, Streak-chested Antpittas occasionally participate in ephemeral mixed species foraging aggregations with other understory insectivores, including Spotted Antbird (Hylophylax naevioides), Black-crowned Antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha), and Chestnut-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza exsul) (H.S. Pollock, personal observations).

Nest predation

The predators of Streak-chested Antpitta nests are not well known. The only observed case of nest predation in the literature was by an army ant swarm, which the mating pair defended by consuming ants as they approached the nest (Skutch 1969). In Central America, studies of other understory forest species suggest that snakes (particularly the bird-eating snake Pseustes poecilonotus) are by far the most common nest predator, although small mammals (e.g., White-nosed Coati Nasua narica, Four-eyed Opossum Philander opossum) and large birds (e.g. hawks, forest-falcons Micrastur, kites, and toucans) are also important nest predators (Robinson and Robinson 2001, Robinson et al. 2005a, Tarwater 2008, Visco et al. 2015).

In a sample of 18 forest bird species from central Panama, both daily nest survival rate (0.91) and cumulative rate of nest survival (0.047 or 4.7%) was lowest in Streak-chested Antpitta (n = 71 nests; Brawn et al. 2011). Furthermore, daily nest survival rates decreased markedly throughout development and were 90% lower in the nestling phase compared to the laying phase, indicating that nest predation, particularly in the incubation and nestling periods, may be an important factor regulating Streak-chested Antpitta populations.

In contrast, a study of artificial Streak-chested Antpitta nests on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama (Sieving 1992) found much lower rates of nest predation (38 ± 4% nest failure) compared to the mainland (ca 95% nest failure; Brawn et al. 2011) and hypothesized that the relative "safety" of antpitta nests has selected for low renesting potential over evolutionary time, potentially explaining their local extinction on BCI. However, a comparison of artificial vs. real nest success of the Streak-chested Antpitta in central Panama indicated that artificial nests drastically underestimated rates of actual nest predation (Robinson et al. 2005b), suggesting that the results of Sieving's (1992) analysis should be interpreted with caution.

Adult predation

Little is known about the predators of adult Streak-chested Antpittas, although raptors such as Micrastur forest-falcons and hawks in the genus Accipiter have been reported to depredate other understory forest bird species and are probably the principal predators of adults (Tarwater and Kelley 2010).

Response to predation

Streak-chested Antpitta has been documented interrupting foraging when startled to scan for potential threats from the safety of a low perch. If threatened, it will seek shelter in thick understory vegetation (SOURCE).