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
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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