Black-spotted bare eye – One of hundreds of birds at our Amazon jungle lodge
04 September 2026 (224 visits)The black-spotted bare eye (Phlegopsis nigromaculata) is one of the more than 600 bird species that live in our protected Tambopata Amazon rainforest. It is a favorite among both the specialist birdwatchers who visit us and our other guests who particularly enjoy sighting and photographing beautiful bird species, during the guided Amazon jungle trips we offer.
The black-spotted bare eye’s plumage on its head, neck and chest are black, while its back is tan with prominent black spots. Its wings and tail are a reddish-brown color. But what makes it particularly easy to spot in the rainforest, and to distinguish from other species, is the broad, bright red ring of bare skin around each eye, which together with its spotted plumage gives the species its name. Both the males and females of the species exhibit the same plumage.
The preferred habitat of the black-spotted bare eye is the humid lowland Amazon forest that is the predominant ecosystem of our Tambopata home. Because it tends to feed on insects in the understory or on the forest floor, and to perch in pairs or small family groups just a meter (three feet) above the ground, it is one of the species that can be readily spotted and identified during guided forest trail walks. It is known to follow swarms of army ants, taking advantage of how other insects tend to flee from such swarms, and feeding on those species.
While the natural range of the black-spotted bare eye is broad, taking in much of South America’s Amazon basin, it is actually quite an uncommon species within that range. Its presence as a year-round resident here in the Tambopata forests we help to protect is a good indicator of the general health of our local ecosystems.
