Abstract
Studies of ant-following birds at Belém show that some species are professional ant-followers, that is, obtain more than 50% of their food near ants. Professional ant-followers at Belém are: Black-spotted Bare-Eye, Phlegopsis nigromaculata, White-backed Fire-Eye, Pyriglena leuconota, Scale-backed Antbird, Hylophylax poecilenota (Formicariidae); Barred Woodcreeper, Dendrocolaptes certhia, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Dendrocincla fuliginosa, White-chinned Woodcreeper, D. merula; and Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata, A list of thirty-seven species of nonprofessional birds was obtained during the study period. Nonprofessional species only occasionally follow army ant raids. The army ant (Eciton burchelli) was the main species followed. Foraging habits, perch heights and prey items were noted for most of the professional and nonprofessional species of birds. Also, their interactions at swarms of ants and a comparison with other ant-following guilds is provided.