Amazonian AntshrikeThamnophilus amazonicusMedium-sized, sluggish bird of tall rainforest. Males mostly gray and black; females very different, with dull to bright cinnamon head and breast, which can aid identification since this species generally occurs in pairs. Often found along river edges and in areas with much vine growth in the mid-story. Hops slowly through vegetation, searching for insects; found alone or with mixed-species flocks. Told from other antshrikes by song and brightly colored female; males have more extensive white wing markings than most other antshrikes. Song is a rapid series of notes with a trogon-like quality.Thamnophilidae bird family
Order Passeriformes · 17 selected species
Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.
Amazonian AntshrikeThamnophilus amazonicusMedium-sized, sluggish bird of tall rainforest. Males mostly gray and black; females very different, with dull to bright cinnamon head and breast, which can aid identification since this species generally occurs in pairs. Often found along river edges and in areas with much vine growth in the mid-story. Hops slowly through vegetation, searching for insects; found alone or with mixed-species flocks. Told from other antshrikes by song and brightly colored female; males have more extensive white wing markings than most other antshrikes. Song is a rapid series of notes with a trogon-like quality.
Banded AntbirdDichrozona cinctaChunky, short-tailed antbird of mature rainforest understory. Gets its name from its two broad cream wingbars, which give it a banded appearance. Brown above, whitish gray below, with a gray face, and black breast streaking. Oddly shaped, with a chunky, nearly tailless body held horizontally on long legs, like a tiny, compact thrush. Walks deliberately around the forest floor with an odd bobbing gait, moving its head forward and back with each step. Hops up onto logs and low hanging stems as it moves around the forest floor, often shuffling around leaves to expose prey. Its song is a slow series of rising whistles, given at a pace of about one note per second.
Black-crested AntshrikeSakesphorus canadensisA stunning antshrike, fairly common in open woodland and scrub in northern South America. Male has black head with white hind collar, white belly, brown back, and obvious white spotting on wing. Female is buffy overall with black tail, rufous crown, and buffy wingbars. Both sexes have a bushy crest, which is usually obvious. Some geographic variation across range: males in northern Colombia have grizzled white speckling on face; males in southern Venezuela and northern Brazil are much darker overall. Typically seen in pairs moving through the lower and middle levels; not particularly skulky.Black-crested AntshrikeSakesphorus canadensisA stunning antshrike, fairly common in open woodland and scrub in northern South America. Male has black head with white hind collar, white belly, brown back, and obvious white spotting on wing. Female is buffy overall with black tail, rufous crown, and buffy wingbars. Both sexes have a bushy crest, which is usually obvious. Some geographic variation across range: males in northern Colombia have grizzled white speckling on face; males in southern Venezuela and northern Brazil are much darker overall. Typically seen in pairs moving through the lower and middle levels; not particularly skulky.
Black-crowned AntshrikeThamnophilus atrinuchaUncommon in tropical lowlands, mainly in forest borders, plantations, open woodlands, and second growth. Mainly forages at low to middle levels and, like many antbirds, often in pairs, which keep in touch by singing. Male is gray overall with a messy blackish cap, blackish wings with white wingbars and edgings, and white-tipped black tail. Female has similar wing and tail pattern, but is drab brownish overall, paler on underparts. Formerly known as Western Slaty Antshrike.
Collared AntshrikeThamnophilus bernardiStout-billed antshrike found in arid areas of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Male is brown and white with a black head, throat, and breast; tail is black with a white tip. Female is brown and buff with a black face speckled with white. Both sexes have a bushy crest and bold wing markings. Birds in the Marañon drainage look a bit different; males have paler faces and less black on the underparts; females have whiter underparts. Inhabits deserts, dry scrub, and deciduous forest understory. Song is a very fast, nasal trill that ends on a longer, higher note.
Ihering's AntwrenMyrmotherula iheringiSmall understory antwren. Males are dark gray with an extensive black throat (extending farther down than in Long-winged Antwren); females are tan below, gray above. Both sexes have white wing spots; this is an especially helpful feature in identifying females. Found in areas of tangled understory in mature rainforest; largely restricted to bamboo patches in areas with bamboo. Usually rarer than the similar Long-winged Antwren, and differs in voice; its song is a slow series of punctuated downslurred whistles “pew, pew, pew, pew, . . .” unlike the high wheezy song of Long-winged Antwren.
Lined AntshrikeThamnophilus tenuepunctatusHandsome, strongly patterned bird with a stout bill. Inhabits dense vegetation at edge of humid forest in the eastern foothills of the Andes. Male is densely barred black and white. Female is barred on underparts but also has chestnut back, wings, tail, and crown. Male similar to male Barred Antshrike but darker and usually found at higher elevations. Female is identical in plumage to female Chestnut-backed Antshrike; their ranges come close in Peru but are not known to overlap. Song is a nasal “bouncing ball” series that ends with a single higher note.
Natterer's Slaty-AntshrikeThamnophilus stictocephalusFairly small antshrike with a graduated, white-tipped tail. Males are gray overall with a black cap and a whitish center to the belly. Females have a cinnamon cap and back and are gray-buff below. Found in the lower levels of short transitional deciduous forests and white sand forests, avoiding humid forests. Sings a series of up to 20 clear notes, starting slowly and accelerating toward the end, finishing with a rattle. Very difficult to distinguish from the male of the Amazonian Antshrike, but differs in habitat. Female Amazonian Antshrike has a bright cinnamon head, not just the cap.
Northern Slaty-AntshrikeThamnophilus punctatusSmallish bird of savanna forests and those on sandy or rocky soils. Male is similar to several other black-and-gray antshrikes; best told from them by voice and habitat. Key field marks for female are bold wing pattern and chestnut cap. Tends to be in drier habitats than other antshrikes in range. Occurs mainly at lower and middle levels of the forest. Forages deliberately, gleaning insects from leaves. Often in pairs, giving song as a duet; usually not with mixed-species flocks.
Northern White-fringed AntwrenFormicivora intermediaAn attractive, fairly long-tailed antwren of Colombia and western Venezuela. Males are grayish-brown above and black below with a thick white eyebrow that connects with the white sides. Also note bold white spots on wings and tail. Females are whitish below, often with bits of dark streaking on the breast sides. Also look for white eyebrow and wing spots. Look for pairs foraging in the lower levels of dense shrubby woodland, often remaining fairly hidden and difficult to see clearly. Typically occurs in the lowlands up to around 1,000 m. Listen for a series of rather musical clucking notes.
Rufous-backed StipplethroatEpinecrophylla haematonotaScarce antwren found mainly in lowland rainforest, but ranges up into mountains in the northern part of its range. Male has mostly gray underparts, black-and-white spots on throat, and whitish or tan spots and bars on wings; back color varies geographically from brown to chestnut. Female is brown, lacks throat markings, and has less distinct wing markings. Dull brown tail distinguishes it from Rufous-tailed Stipplethroat. Male’s checkered throat and female’s lack of throat markings help separate it from Ornate Stipplethroat. Almost always encountered in mixed-species understory flocks with antshrikes and other antwrens. Song is a high-pitched, descending trill; also often gives a dry rattle.
Rusty-winged AntwrenHerpsilochmus fraterA small antwren with a relatively long tail and bill. Widespread, occurs from eastern Panama to central Brazil. Bright plumage for an antwren: look for its yellow belly, rufous wings, bold white wingbars, and dark eyeline. Sexes are similar, but female has a rufous cap, which is black on male. Most often seen in pairs, foraging in the low to middle levels of lowland and foothill forest. Frequently follows mixed-species flocks. Listen for a short, harsh, rapid trill that accelerates into a growl.
Serra AntwrenFormicivora serranaSmall, strikingly-plumaged antbird with a long tail and a very restricted range. Inhabits the understory of low stature or regenerating forests, forest edges, scrub, and abandoned plantations where it is very active and occasionally joins mixed-species flocks. Much plumage variation, with coastal males near Rio de Janeiro (formerly split as Restinga Antwren) being almost uniformly sooty-black with only slightly grayer back and spotted white wingbars. Two more northerly subspecies vary between rufous-brown and dark gray above, but both are black below with a bold white eyebrow and white wing spots. In all subspecies, females are pale whitish below and brown above with a bold white eyebrow. Male song is a monotonous series of harsh chip notes; female gives nasal squeaks.
Southern White-fringed AntwrenFormicivora griseaAn attractive, fairly long-tailed antwren found from eastern Venezuela and Guyana to southeastern Brazil. Males are grayish-brown above and black below with a white eyebrow and white sides. Also note bold white spots on wings and tail. Females are bright tawny below, with bold white wing spots and an indistinct white eyebrow. Look for pairs foraging in the lower levels of dense shrubby woodland, often remaining fairly hidden and difficult to see clearly. Typically occurs in the lowlands up to around 1,000 m. Listen for series of rather musical clucking notes.
Variable AntshrikeThamnophilus caerulescensSmall antshrike with extensive plumage variation among subspecies for both sexes. Found in the lower and middle levels of woodland and second growth. Typical males are dark gray with a dark cap, white wing coverts, and a white-tipped tail. Andean subspecies are black above and black or barred below. Females are rusty-brown, with most having well marked, spotted wingbars. The song is a loud and fast series of 7 “ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka” notes.
Wing-banded AntbirdMyrmornis torquataRare and local, but fairly widespread from Honduras to Brazil. It has an unmistakable dumpy shape with a short tail and short legs. Brown above and gray below with richer rusty rump and blackish wings with obvious buffy wingbars. Male has a black throat, orange on female, both bordered by scaly pattern on cheek and neck sides. Note large booked bill. Occurs singly or in pairs on the ground within lowland forest, often in hilly areas. Flips over leaves when foraging. Listen for purring calls and a loud series of whistled notes.