ANTBIRDS   -   THAMNOPHILIDAE   -   PART I

Spot-backed Antshrike Hypoedaleus guttatus Serra do Ouricana (Boa Nova), Bahia State, Brazil. Male in full song. Birds lacking any tawny on the underparts from the northern part of the species'  range (such as this one) were formerly separated as subspecies leucogaster. HBW did not recognize this taxon due to the broad zone of intergradation. (D3)

Giant Antshrike Batara cinerea cinerea Intervales State Park, São Paulo state, Brazil. Male. The largest and most spectacular of all the antbirds, it can measure up to 35 cm (14"). Despite this, it can be a very hard bird to see well, especially the females. It seems to have a strong association with bamboo. (D3)		Tufted Antshrike Mackenziaena severa Intervales State Park, São Paulo state, Brazil. Female. Another gorgeous antshrike of the Atlantic Rainforest region. The female is much more ornate than the male, which is pure charcoal gray. (S6)

Large-tailed Antshrike Mackenziaena leachii Intervales State Park, São Paulo state, Brazil. Male. The second largest antbird behind Giant, and nearly as spectacular. It is endemic to SE Brazil and adjacent border areas of Argentina and Paraguay. It inhabits stunted forest and scrubby forest edge. (S6)

Great Antshrike Taraba major transandeanus Finca Exito I, 20 km N of Puerto Quito, Pichincha province, Ecuador. Male. A common and widespread bird from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. (S5)

Great Antshrike Taraba major major Fazenda Santa Tereza (Pantanal Wildlife Center), Mato Grosso, Brazil. Female. (S5)

Black-crested Antshrike Sakesphorus canadensis loretoyacuensis Anavilhanas Archilpelago, Amazonas state, Brazil. Male. I was surprised when I saw this bird on a river island in the Rio Negro near Manaus. It seemed out-of-place compared to the habitats where I had seen it previously in Venezuela. (D3)

Silvery-cheeked Antshrike Sakesphorus cristatus Palmeiras, Bahia state, Brazil. Male. A Northeast Brazil endemic, found in deciduous forest and caatinga woodland. (S6)

Silvery-cheeked Antshrike Sakesphorus cristatus Palmeiras, Bahia state, Brazil. Female. (S6)

Glossy Antshrike Sakesphorus luctuosus luctuosus Near Careiro da Varzea, Amazonas state, Brazil. Male. Endemic to Brazil even though it has a large range. The female is fantastic with a rufous crest, but I couldn't manage to get a shot of her. (D3)

White-bearded Antshrike Biatas nigropectus Itatiaia NP, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Male. A unique monotypic genus endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest, confined to bamboo patches. It was once thought to be quite rare, but now that the vocalizations are better known, it can be seen on most bird tours to the Southeast Brazil area. (S6)

Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus intermedius Northeast of Mapastepec, Chiapas state, Mexico. Male. Possibly the most widespread member of the family, occurring from NE Mexico to N Argentina. (S6)

Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus capistratus Palmeiras, Bahia state, Brazil. This subspcies is endemic to the caatinga of northeastern Brazil. The red iris is the most notable difference. It has been suggested by some ornithologists that it should be split off as Caatinga Antshrike, but I don't think this is warranted due to similarities in voice. (S6)

Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus intermedius Northeast of Mapastepec, Chiapas state, Mexico. Male. (S5)

Rufous-capped Antshrike Thamnophilus ruficapillus cochabambae Potreros de Yala Provincial Park, Jujuy province, Argentina. Male. (S5)

Rufous-capped Antshrike Thamnophilus ruficapillus ruficapillus Aprados da Serra National park, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Female. (D4)

Rufous-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus torquatus Chapada Diamantina, Bahia state, Brazil. Male. You'll notice that the antshrikes are well-represented in this gallery; they are more likely to sit still in the open than other members of the family. (S6)

Rufous-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus torquatus Serra de Cipó, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Female. (D2)

Bar-crested Antshrike Thamnophilus multistriatus multistriatus Near San Vicente de Chucurí, Santander department, Colombia. Male. This bird is nearly endemic to Colombia, barely getting over the border in the Sierra de Perijá in western Venezuela. It is rather common in disturbed habitats at middle elevations. (D3)

Chestnut-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus palliatus vestitus Balbina Forest, Bandeira, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Male. This is the Atlantic Forest subspecies, which is darker overall. (D3)		Chestnut-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus palliatus vestitus Balbina Forest, Bandeira, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Female, with the rufous crest. She is the mate of the bird in the previous photo. (D3)

Collared Antshrike Thamnophilus bernardi piurae Bosque de Pomac, Lambayeque department, Peru. Male. (D2)

Western Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha atrinucha Pacto-Guallabillas road, Pichincha province, Ecuador. Male. These two birds seemed to be a mated pair. (S5f)		Western Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha atrinucha Pacto-Guallabillas road, Pichincha province, Ecuador. Female. (S5f)

Mouse-colored Antshrike Thamnophilus murinus canipennis Shiripuno Lodge, Orellana province, Ecuador. Male. The faint white edging on the wing coverts and the white central underparts separate it from Plain-winged Antshrike (T. schistaceus). (S4)

Blackish-gray Antshrike Thamnophilus nigrocinereus cinereoniger Anavilhanas Archipelago, Amazononas state, Brazil. Male. He's pretty uninspiring, but does have a nice song. (D3)		Black-hooded Antshrike Thamnophilus bridgesi Carara NP, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica. Male. A poor photo. This species is restricted to Pacific SW Costa Rica and W Panama. It's very common in Carara. (S5)

Natterer's Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus stictocephalus Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Male. One of the several species split off what was once just Slaty Antshrike. This bird was on the "Serra" at Cristalino Jungle Lodge, a rocky hilltop with sandy soil and stunted forest, a preferred habitat for this species. (D3)

Planalto Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus pelzelni Corrego dos Ovos, 16 km ESE of Pirapora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Male. Another of the species split off of the Slaty Antshrike complex, this one is endemic to interior eastern Brazil. Horrendously backlit, but a flash at least allowed the bird to be exposed properly. (S5f)

Variable Antshrike Thamnophilus caerulescens caerulescens Southwest of Sumidouro, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Male. The nominate race, found in the Atlantic Forest region. (S5)

Variable Antshrike Thamnophilus caerulescens caerulescens Santuario de Caraça, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Female. The nominate race, found in the Atlantic Forest region. (S5)

Variable Antshrike Thamnophilus caerulescens cearensis Serra de Baturité, Ceará state, Brazil. Male, of the race endemic to northeastern Brazil, showing virtually no black on the crown. (D3)

Uniform Antshrike Thamnophilus unicolor unicolor Buenaventura reserve, El Oro province, Ecuador. Male. The only antshrike restricted to Andean cloudforests. (S5)

Black-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus melanonotus Minca, Magdalena department, Colombia. Male. This species is very locally found in dry forest near the Caribbean coast in NE Colombia and NW Venezuela. (S5)

Amazonian Antshrike Thamnophilus amazonicus cinereiceps Mitú, Vaupés department, Colombia. Male. A widespread species over much of the Amazon basin, though oddly it is absent from most of Ecuador. (S6)

Streak-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus insignis insignis La Escalera (Sierra de Lema), Bolívar state, Venezuela Male. Endemic to the tepui region. (D3)

Black Bushbird Neoctantes niger Mitú, Vaupés department, Colombia. Male. A scarce antbird found mainly in the western Amazon, and locally elsewhere. (S6)