Red-fronted antpecker

The red-fronted antpecker is a captivating songbird that inhabits the tropical lowland forests of Western Africa. Part of the estrildid finch family, it has a closely related counterpart in Jameson's antpecker, with some even considering the latter a subspecies.

These delicate birds can be observed flitting about in countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. They flourish in the lush, moist ecosystems of these regions.

Previously, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the red-fronted antpecker and Jameson's antpecker as a single species of least concern. However, following a taxonomic reclassification that recognized them as separate species, the red-fronted antpecker's conservation status was revised to near threatened. This update underscores a troubling decline in their population, primarily driven by habitat destruction. Indeed, they have already disappeared from some areas, such as Mali.