Amazonian Antshrike

Overview

The Amazonian antshrike (Thamnophilus amazonicus) is a species of bird in the subfamily Thamnophilinae of the family Thamnophilidae, known as the typical antbirds. It is found throughout the Amazon Basin in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Identification

• Adults measure 14 to 15 cm in length and weigh between 17 and 21 g, featuring stout, hook-tipped bills.
• Males of the nominate subspecies have a black center on the forehead and crown with a gray head, a mostly black back, and gray underparts, while females display a bright rufous crown and yellowish red-brown heads and underparts.
• The song is a long series that typically increases in speed and pitch, levels off, and then descends, transcribed as 'kur kur kur-kur-kur-kur-kur'ke'ke'ke'ke'kahkahkahkah'.
• Calls include a long, downslurred 'caw', an emphatic barking note, and a long raspy growl resembling a short rattle.

Habitat

This species inhabits evergreen and secondary forests across the Amazon Basin, generally ranging from the understorey to the mid-storey. Subspecies occupy varied environments, including sandy soils, viny edges of seasonally flooded várzea and igapó, dense secondary forest, and Guadua bamboo stands, typically at elevations below 400 m, with a single record at 1,300 m in Venezuela.

Diet

The diet consists mostly of insects and other arthropods, with foraging usually conducted singly or in pairs between 5 and 17 m above the ground. The bird hops through thickets and vine tangles to glean prey from leaves, branches, and bamboo, employing short upward sallies from perches to capture food.

Did you know?

The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, with males of the nominate subspecies appearing largely black and gray, whereas females possess a bright rufous crown and distinctively bright yellowish red-brown heads and underparts.