The many species of antbirds have been given a variety of names. Some are called antwren, antshrike, antvireo, ant-thrush, fire-eye, and many more, but all are closely related.
Most are rather drab looking, with plain black and white or brown coloring. However, there are exceptions. For instance, the male of one species, called bicolored, has dark feathers on its wings and over its back, but is pure white underneath, making a sharp and pleasant contrast. The female is usually light brown above and white below. Another, called the ocellated (which means “spotted”), has a variety of pretty color patches over its entire body.
Yet another outstanding one goes by the name white-fronted. This one has a silky, white-feathered crest over its head, matched by a white beard under its beak. When in the air, these white ornaments blow back against its body, making it look like a flying arrow, but when still, they stand out and are pretty.
Antbirds make cup-shaped nests composed of leaves or fibers in forks of trees or the branches of shrubs. But they’re not committed to any particular spots; some prefer nesting in a hollow tree, while others just make their nests right on the ground. Whatever the choice may be, the male and female work together on the nest, as well as in all their activities, and stay together for life. It surely is nice to see this faithfulness to each other.
Immediately after nest building, two or three eggs are laid. Once again, the parents share in incubating and watching over them—the male taking his turn in the daytime and the female at night. In about two weeks the little ones hatch out and remain in the nest for about two more weeks. Then it is time for the parents to gently but firmly push them out, so they will learn to fly and care for themselves. However, different from many birds, it is not unusual for some of the young to resist these necessary lessons, and the parents are patient with them, sometimes continuing to feed them for many weeks before they will venture away on their own.
In the above opening Bible verse, the Lord Jesus contrasted the birds—all of which have nests of one kind or another—with Himself when He was on earth and did not even have a home of His own. Another verse (2 Corinthians 8:9) tells us “though He was rich [in heaven], yet for your sakes He became poor [on earth], that ye through His poverty might be rich.” The riches He desires to give every one of us are those of everlasting life in heaven, through knowing Him as our Saviour. Do you have these wonderful riches?
ML-10/26/2014