Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike
Thamnophilus ambiguus
Small antshrike found in the lower and middle level of woodlands and second growth. Males are gray with a dark cap and black wings and tail that have prominent white bars and spots. Females are rufous with a grayish face, dark wings, and a similar pattern of spotting on the wings. The song is loud and long: a series of around 20 descending notes with an abrupt finish. Resembles Variable Antshrike, males of which are darker and females more rufescent.
Identification
The Sooretama slaty antshrike is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long. Members of genus Thamnophilus are largish members of the antbird family; all have stout bills with a hook like those of true shrikes. This species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism. Adult males have a black forehead and crown with a few gray spots on the former. Their back is gray with a black spot in the middle and a hidden white patch between the scapulars. Their face is gray. Their wings and wing coverts are black with white spots and edges. Their tail is black with white tips and spots on the feathers. Their underparts are gray that is often whiter on the throat and belly. Adult females have a warm tawny-brown crown. Their back is olive-gray with a clay-colored tinge and a few black feather tips. Their wings are dark brown with white spots and edges and pale clay edges on the flight feathers. Their tail is dark brown with white tips and spots on the feathers. Their underparts are mixed clay and smoke-gray and are whiter on the throat and belly.
Taxonomy
The Sooretama slaty antshrike was described by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1825 and given its current binomial name Thamnophilus ambiguus. It was later treated as a subspecies of T. punctatus, which was then called the slaty antshrike. Following the results of a study published in 1997, the slaty antshrike was split into six species, of which the Sooretama slaty antshrike is one. To avoid confusion the remnant T. punctatus was given its present name of northern slaty antshrike.<p>The Sooretama slaty antshrike is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Thamnophilus ambiguus
- Authority
- Swainson, 1825
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Thamnophilus
Range and habitat
The Sooretama slaty antshrike is found in southeastern Brazil coastally from southern Sergipe to Rio de Janeiro state and inland up the Doce River valley in Minas Gerais. It inhabits the understorey to mid-storey of evergreen forest, woodlands on sandy soil, and nearby secondary forest. It everywhere favors the forest edge and gaps within it caused by fallen trees. In elevation it occurs from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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