Sooretama Slaty Antshrike

Overview

The Sooretama slaty antshrike (Thamnophilus ambiguus) is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae, commonly known as the typical antbirds. It is endemic to Brazil and is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Size and Bill: A largish antbird measuring 14 to 15 cm in length, possessing a stout, hook-like bill.
• Male Plumage: Adults exhibit a black forehead and crown with sparse grey spots, a grey back with a central black spot, and black wings with white spots and edges; underparts are grey, often whiter on the throat and belly.
• Female Plumage: Females display a warm tawny-brown crown and an olive-grey back with a clay-coloured tinge, featuring dark brown wings with white spots and edges, and underparts that are mixed clay and smoke-grey.
• Vocalisation: The song consists of a cackling series that starts high and rises before finishing with a short, sometimes descending rattle, accompanied by a level high, cackling call described as 'witwitwit' or 'witrrr'.

Habitat

This species inhabits the understorey to mid-storey of evergreen forests, woodlands on sandy soil, and nearby secondary forests across southeastern Brazil, ranging coastally from southern Sergipe to Rio de Janeiro state and inland up the Doce River valley in Minas Gerais. It shows a strong preference for forest edges and gaps created by fallen trees, occurring at elevations from sea level up to 700 m.

Diet

The diet consists primarily of insects and other arthropods, with foraging typically conducted singly, in pairs, or in small family groups. Birds hop through thickets and vine tangles, gleaning prey from leaves, branches, and vines by reaching and lunging from perches, occasionally making short upward sallies or taking prey from leaf litter on the ground.

Did you know?

Despite its name implying a link to swarms, this species has only seldom been observed following army ant swarms, preferring to join mixed-species feeding flocks instead.