Cocha Antshrike
Thamnophilus praecox
Rare antbird nearly endemic to the lowlands of eastern Ecuador. It was recently found in neighboring Colombia, and is likely to occur over the border in Peru as well. Male is pure black. Female is chestnut with a black hood. Both sexes are very similar to White-shouldered Antbird, but lack blue markings around the eye. Male also similar to male White-shouldered Antshrike, but lacks white wing markings and lives in different habitat. Cocha Antshrike is usually encountered in pairs that skulk low in swampy forest along the edge of ponds and sluggish creeks. Typical song is a fast, monotonous series of clucks.
Identification
The cocha antshrike is about 16 cm (6.3 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 sexual dimorphism. Adult males are entirely black except that their underwing coverts are white, a feature that is seldom visible in the field. Adult females have a black head, throat, and upper breast. Some individuals have faint white streaks on their throat. The rest of their body, their wings, and their tail are cinnamon-rufous; their underparts are slightly paler than their back.
Taxonomy
The cocha antshrike is monotypic. It and the black antshrike (T. nigriceps) are sister species.
- Scientific name
- Thamnophilus praecox
- Authority
- Zimmer, JT, 1937
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Thamnophilus
Range and habitat
The cocha antshrike was long thought to be endemic to northeastern Ecuador, where it occurs locally along the Rio Napo and its tributaries. The International Ornithological Committee lists it that way. However, by 2021 the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC) had recognized that it also occurred further upstream in that river system in extreme south-central Colombia. In March 2024 the SACC recognized documented records from Peru. In late 2023 the Clements taxonomy revised its range statement to read "northeastern Ecuador (locally along the Río Napo and its tributaries in eastern Napo and eastern Sucumbíos) and adjacent Colombia (locally in Putumayo and southwestern Caqueta); disjunctly in northern Peru (on the Canal de Puinahua, in south-central Loreto)".<p>The cocha antshrike is found along blackwater rivers, usually small ones, in seasonally flooded várzea forest. It favors dense thickets and tangles. In elevation it occurs between about 160 and 300 m (500 and 1,000 ft) above sea level.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The cocha antshrike is presumed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The cocha antshrike's diet is not known but is assumed to be insects and other arthropods. It usually forages singly or in pairs and seldom joins mixed-species feeding flocks. It forages in dense vegetation where it hops among branches to glean prey.<p>Nothing is known about the cocha antshrike's breeding biology.<p>The cocha antshrike's song is "a hollow, evenly paced ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko"; it sometimes follows it with a shorter and higher pitched version of the song. Its calls include "a mellow 'pwow-pwow' and a more trilled 'krrrrrr' ".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Senegal Coucal
Centropus senegalensis
Small coucal with a black cap and buffy underparts. There is a localized West African population that shows black underparts, save for a rufous belly. Found in a variety of habitats with a thick understory, including tall grassland, scrub, thickets within savanna, and forest edge. Skulks in the undergrowth, occasionally emerging to sit on an exposed perch, especially when drying out after a rainstorm. Song is a descending and accelerating series of deep “boop” notes. In the small area of overlap with Burchell’s Coucal, separated by the plain black rather than barred top of the tail. Immature has a streaked back and resembles White-browed Coucal but is more rufous below. Much smaller than Black-throated and Coppery-tailed Coucals.
Reischek's Parakeet
Cyanoramphus hochstetteri
A medium-sized, emerald-green parakeet endemic to the Antipodes Islands, including smaller outer islands. Recognized by its distinctive bright red crown and small red patches behind the eyes. Green body plumage has a slight yellowish tint. Males are larger than females. Most commonly found in areas of low vegetation and open areas along the coast. Forms small flocks in autumn and winter. Calls are a distinctive parakeet chatter. Distinguished from Red-crowned Parakeet by lack of range overlap and the more yellow-green body plumage. Easily distinguished from larger, all-green Antipodes Island Parakeet.
Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
Yungipicus canicapillus
A diminutive woodpecker of mixed deciduous forests and gardens, from sea level into mountains. Blackish above, pale with black streaking and buffy-gray wash below. Male's tiny red nape mark is often invisible. Appearance varies across wide range; namesake gray cap fairly limited in north and east of range. Most commonly heard calls a weak “wik” and fussy-sounding, descending rattle.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.