Tufted Antshrike
Mackenziaena severa
Medium-sized antshrike, with a long tail and a crest. Found in the understory and middle levels of humid forests with dense vine tangles or bamboo and in second growth areas. Usually found in pairs, but can be very hard to see. Males are all dark-gray whereas females have a cinnamon crest and bars on the rest of the body. The song is a loud and clear series of whistles “phiu phiu phiu phiu phiu.”
Identification
The tufted antshrike is a large dark antbird, 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in) long and weighing 50 to 80 g (1.8 to 2.8 oz). The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, though both sexes have a crest (that usually is flattened), red irises, and a moderately long black bill with a hook at the end like true shrikes. Adult males are mostly sooty gray with a blackish forehead and crest and browish black wings. Adult females are mostly blackish brown. Their forehead and crest are rufous, their upperparts have cinnamon bars, their tail has faint paler bars, and their underparts have pale buff bars. Subadult males resemble adult males but are more brownish overall.
Taxonomy
The tufted antshrike shares genus Mackenziaena with the large-tailed antshrike (M. leachii). However, there is some doubt about how closely they are related, with evidence that the tufted antshrike is more closely related to the three species of genus Frederickena. Both species are monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Mackenziaena severa
- Authority
- (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Mackenziaena
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The tufted antshrike is presumed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The tufted antshrike feeds on a variety of large insects and other arthropods; its diet also includes molluscs and small vertebrates including frogs, lizards, snakes, bird eggs and nestlings. It forages singly or in pairs, mostly within about 3 m (10 ft) of the ground but as high as 10 m (35 ft) in dense bamboo and vine tangles. It hops from branch to branch and along the ground, reaching from a perch to glean prey from leaves, stems, and branches. It occasionally drops to the ground to seize prey.<p>The tufted antshrike's eggs have been described as having a clear base color with dark lilac spots ang gray lines. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.<p>The tufted antshrike's song is a "short, slow, slightly accelerating series of 6-8 very high, slightly rising, strident 'sreek' notes". Its call is a "sudden rising shriek, like 'sreeew' ".
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Pogoniulus bilineatus
Small, handsome, black-and-white barbet. Always shows bold white stripes on the face. The rump color varies geographically, from pale yellow to gold. Found in forest and thick woodland. The call varies geographically. In some areas, gives a slow series of several “poop” notes. Elsewhere, gives a longer and faster series. On the coast of East Africa, gives a very fast trilled series. Similar to Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, but the facial markings are white--not yellow.
White-fronted Tit
Sittiparus semilarvatus
A small, uncommon bird of lowland and foothill forest canopy and edge. Entirely dark with an obvious white mark from the forehead down between the bill and eye. Males are entirely black and females have dark brown underparts. Varies regionally, with Mindanao birds having an additional white mark in the wing. Unmistakable. Voice includes a downslurred series of three fairly high-pitched downslurred notes, “piu-piu piu.” Also gives a rapid staccato trill.
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