Fasciated antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Photo by Dave Wendelken (Flickr)

Common name:
fasciated antshrike (en); choca-zebrada (pt); batara fascié (fr); hormiguero rayado (es); zebra-ameisenwürger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thamnophilidae

Range:
This species is found from south-eastern Honduras to north-western Venezuela and south through Colombia to north-western Ecuador and northern Brazil, across virtually all of Amazonia and in the Guyanas.

Size:
These birds are 17-18 cm long and weigh 30-40 g.

Habitat:
These birds are found in evergreen rainforests, typically in the mid-storey canopy, but also along forest edges and in rior in second growths and thickets.

Diet:
The fasciated antshrike feeds on large insects and sometimes small frogs and lizards, but unlike other antshrikes they rarely follow ant swarms. They may ocasionally also eat fruits.

Breeding:
These birds breed in April-June. The nest is a thick-walled cup made of dark plant fibres, placed in a fork of foliage branches 2-8 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 cream-coloured eggs with brown and lilac spots. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
The fasciated antshrike has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This species is expected to lose 15% of its available habitat over the next 3 generations, due to deforestation in the Amazonian basin, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Sooty antbird

Myrmeciza fortis

Photo by Christopher Plummer (PBase)

Common name:
sooty antbird (en); formigueiro-de-taoca (pt); alapi fuligineux (fr); hormiguero tiznado (es); schwarzgrauer ameisenvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thamnophilidae


Range:
This South American species is found east of the Andes in southern Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and north-western Brazil.


Size:
These birds are 16-20 cm long and weigh 45-50 g.


Habitat:
Sooty antbirds are found in rainforests and sometimes also in swamp forests. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.


Diet:
They are obligate army ant followers, taking various invertebrates that are flushed by the activity of army ant swarms.


Breeding:
Sooty antbirds nest in a spherical chamber with an horizontal entrance tunnel, made of tightly woven plant materials and lined with plant fibres. This nest is concealed in leaf litter on the forest floor, often at the edge of frequently travelled trails. The female lays 2 creamy-white eggs with brown scrawls, which are incubated by both sexes for 14-18 days. The chicks fledge 9-10 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range, but is described as uncommon. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, so the sooty antbird is not considered threatened at present.

Spotted antbird

Hylophylax naevioides

Photo by Paul Jones (Surfbirds)

Common name:
spotted antbird (en); guarda-floresta-maculado (pt); fourmilier grivelé (fr); hormiguero moteado (es); rotmantel-ameisenwächter (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thamnophilidae


Range:
This species is found in the Caribbean slopes of Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in Panama, north-western Colombia and western Ecuador.


Size:
These birds are 11-12 cm long and weigh 16-19,5 g.


Habitat:
Spotted antbirds are found in lowland rainforests, from sea level up to an altitude of 900 m.


Diet:
They follow army ant swarms, taking the animals that try to escape the swarm. They are known to eat small spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, katydids, crickets, centipedes, sowbugs, moths, beetles, caterpillars, ants, bristletails and even small lizards and frogs.


Breeding:
The spotted antbird breeds in March-October. Both sexes build the nest, an open cup made of fungal rhizomorphs, leaves and small sticks, placed in open undergrowth, up to 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which are incubated by both parents for 16-20 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 11 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

Great antshrike

Taraba major

Photo by Csaba Godeny (Hide Photography)

Common name:
great antshrike (en); choró-boi (pt); grand batara (fr); batará grande (es); weißbrust-ameisenwürger (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thamnophilidae


Range:
This species is found from eastern Mexico, across Central America, and into South America down to northern Argentina and south-eastern Brazil.


Size:
These birds are 19-20 cm long and weigh 55-75 g.


Habitat:
Great antshrikes are mostly found in both dry and moist savannas, but also in moist scrublands, moist forests, second growths, plantations and gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.200 m.


Diet:
They mostly glean insects and other arthropods from foliage, but will also take small lizards and mammals. They sometimes follow ant swarms to eat the small animals flushed by the ants.


Breeding:
The great antshrike breeds in July-December. The nest is a deep cup made of grasses and leaves and lined with soft materials. It is placed in a branch or fork in a scrub. The female lays 2-3 cream-coloured eggs with brown blotches, which are incubated by both parents for 14-18 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 12-13 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 500.000-5.000.000 individuals. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

Guianan warbling antbird

Hypocnemis cantator

Photo by Michel Giraud-Audine (Oiseaux)

Common name:
Guianan warbling antbird (en); cantador-da-Guiana (pt); alapi carillonneur (fr); hormiguero cantador de Guyana (es); Guyana-ameisenschnäpper (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thamnophilidae


Range:
This species is found in the Guyanas, in eastern Venezuela and in north-eastern Brazil, north of the Amazon river and east of the Negro and Branco rivers.


Size:
The Guianan warbling antbird is 11-12 cm long and weigh 13-14 g.


Habitat:
These birds are mostly found along the edges of moist and swamp forests, in secondary woodlands and along rivers, streams and marshes. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.300 m.


Diet:
They glean spiders and small insects from trunks and branches, in dense tangles of vegetation.


Breeding:
Guianan warbling antbirds build a pouch-shaped pensile nest, located beside a trunk or large branch, about 1 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 pinkish eggs with purple streaks and spots, which are incubated by both sexes for 12-13 days. The chicks are cared for by both parents and fledge 11-13 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common to common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Brown-bellied antwren

Myrmotherula gutturalis

Photo by Marc Chretien (Oiseaux)

Common name:

brown-bellied antwren (en); choquinha-de-barriga-parda (pt); myrmidon à ventre brun (fr); hormiguerito ventripardo (es); braunbauch-ameisenschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This South American species is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

Size:

Brown-bellied antwrens are 9-11 cm long and weigh 9-10 g.

Habitat:

These birds are found in tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, generally preferring the denser areas of the understorey and areas of lower canopy. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:

Brown-bellied antwrens forage at the middle-level of the forest, gleaning insects from the vegetation.

Breeding:

They build a domed or oven shaped nest with twigs and leafs, placing it low above ground in a dense bush in dry land forest. The female lays 2 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 11 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 10-11 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The brown-bellied antwren has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

Bicoloured antbird

Gymnopithys leucaspis

Photo by Matt Deres (Wikipedia)

Common name:

bicoloured antbird (en); mãe-de-taoca-bochechuda (pt); fourmilier à joues blanches (fr);hormiguero bicolor (es); braunweißer ameisenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

The bicoloured antbird is foung from Honduras, across Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, and into Colombia, Peru and north-western Brazil.

Size:

These birds are 19-20 cm long and weigh 30-32 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found in tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, but can also be found in mountain forests up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:

The bicoloured antbird is an obligate ant-follower, eating insects and other arthropods that the army ant swarms stirs from the leaf litter.

Breeding:

These birds are monogamous, mating for life. Both sexes build the nest, a cup of vegetation placed in a fork in a branch. There the female lays 2 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 15-16 days. The chicks are fed by both sexes and fledge 14 days after hatching. After fledging, the chicks spend the first few days well hidden as the parents bring them food, and they only become fully independent a couple of months later.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The bicoloured antbird has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction in large parts of its range.

Paraná antwren

Stymphalornis acutirostris

Photo by Dario Sanches (Flickr)

Common name:

Paraná antwren (en); bicudinho-do-brejo (pt); grisin des marais (fr); hormiguerito del Paraná (es); schilfrohr-ameisenfänger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This species is endemic to Brazil, only being found in coastal areas of the south-eastern states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

Size:

The Paraná antwren is 15 cm long and weighs 8,5-11,5 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found in littoral marshes dominated by Scirpus californicus, with other marsh vegetation such as grasses and bushes. They also occur in riverine marshes, flooded plains with herbaceous vegetation and transition areas to mangrove swamps and flooded lowland forests with herbaceous strata.

Diet:

The Paraná antwren forages in the lower herbaceous strata, mostly taking spiders, butterflies, crickets, flies and, occasionally, arboreal crabs.

Breeding:

These birds breed in August-February. They build a cup-shapes nest using plant fibres, leaves and stems, usually placed on reeds. There the female lays 2 white eggs with brown spots, which are incubated by both parents for 15-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-12 days after hatching, but may continue to receive food for up to 2 months.

Conservation:

IUCN status - EN (Endangered)

This species has a very small and fragmented breeding range, and the global population is estimated at just 10.000-20.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be facing a slow and ongoing population decline, owing to habitat loss and degradation. Some patches of habitat are under constant human pressure and have been reduced by fires, allotments and landfills. Other threats include land acquisition, disturbance from boat traffic on rivers during the breeding season, erosion due to water traffic, sand extraction from river margins, invasive vegetation and cattle-grazing. This species could also be affected by sea level rise, which could greatly reduce the area of suitable habitat

Black-crested antshrike

Sakesphorus canadensis

Photo by Maxime Dechelle (Oiseaux)

Common name:

black-crested antshrike (en); choca-de-crista-preta (pt); batara huppé (fr); batara crestinegro (es); schwarzgesicht-ameisenwürger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This species is a resident breeder in tropical South America in Trinidad, Colombia,Venezuela, the Guianas, northern Brazil and northeastern Peru.

Size:

The black-crested antshrike is 14-16 cm long and weighs 24 g.

Habitat:

These birds are found in the understorey and midstorey of deciduous woodlands, gallery forests and savanna forests. Sometimes also in undergrowth in mangrove or other swampy forest and thickets near water. In Surinam they are also found near suburban areas.

Diet:

The Black-crested Antshrike feeds on insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage. It will also take small lizards and berries.

Breeding:

These birds breed in June-September. Both sexes build the nest, a deep cup made of spider webs, moss and other materials, suspended below a branch or vine 2-9 meter above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which are incubated by both sexes for 14-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 11-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. This species tolerates a number of secondary and degraded habitats and thus its population is suspected to be stable.

Barred antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:

barred antshrike (en); choca-barrada (pt); batara rayé (fr); batará barrado (es); binden-ameisenwürger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This American species is found from Tamaulipas, Mexico, through Central America and Trinidad and Tobago, and a large part of South America east of the Andes as far south as northern Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Size:

Barred shrikes are 15-18 cm long and weigh 24-32 g.

Habitat:

These birds are usually found near the ground in dense undergrowth and in a variety of other habitats such as forest edge, closed non-deciduous forest, dry scrub, gardens, deciduous woodland and second-growth forests, second-growth thickets, and scrubs.

Diet:

The barred antshrike is largely a leaf insectivore, taking a large variety of insects and other invertebrates including mantids, phasmatids, Gastropoda, Araneae, Ixodidae, Diplopoda, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Isoptera. They are also known to eat small lizards, fruits and small seeds.

Breeding:

The breeding season of the barred antshrike varies by geographic area, generally taking place in January-September. The nests is a small, deep, open cup with thin walls that is commonly found in densely tangled areas 0,5-3 m above the ground in the forks of two branches. It is built using fine black and brown fibers, tendrils, vines and vegetable fibers, flowering grasses, rootlets and fine grasses. The female lays 2-3 white eggs with brown and purple markings which are incubated by both parents for 11-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-12 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population of 5-50 million individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction through deforestation, but the species is not considered threatened at present.

Black-hooded antshrike

Thamnophilus bridgesi

Photo by Norbert Sauberer (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

black-hooded antshrike (en); choca-de-capuz (pt); batara capucin (fr); batará negruzco (es); kapuzenameisenwürger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This species is only found in the southern Pacific lowlands and foothills of Costa Rica and western Panama.

Size:

These birds are 14-16 cm long and weigh 22-24 g.

Habitat:

These birds are mostly found along the edges of rainforests, in mangroves and second growth forests.

Diet:

Black-hooded antshrikes glean insects and spider from leaves.

Breeding:

They mostly breed in April-July. They nest on a deep, thin-walled cup, suspended from the surrounding vegetation, where the female lays 2 eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 14-16 days and the chicks fledge 9-11 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the black-hooded antshrike has a restricted breeding range, it is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Variable antshrike

Thamnophilus caerulescens

Common name:

variable antshrike (en); choca-da-mata (pt); batara bleuâtre (fr); batará variable (es); südlicher-tropfenameisenwürger

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This South American species is found widely in eastern and southern Brazil, with disjunct populations in Ceará, Pernambuco and Alagoas. From southern Brazil, its range extends through Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina, Bolivia, and along the eastern slope of the Andes in Peru, as far north as the Amazonas Region.

Size:

Variable antshrikes are 14-16 cm long and weigh 20 g.

Habitat:

They are found in a wide range of densely to lightly wooded habitats, ranging from the edge of humid forest to arid woodland. They are most common in lowlands, but it is primarily found in foothills in north-eastern Brazil, and is restricted to highlands up to 2.600-3.000 m throughout a large part of its Andean range.

Diet:

Variable antshrikes mostly eat insects which they glean from foliage. They also eat some fruits and berries.

Breeding:

The breeding season is variable and both male and female cooperate in building the nest, a cup woven with twigs and plant fibres, placed on a fork in a tree. There the female lays 2-3 which are incubated by both parents for 14-17 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 12-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, it is described as common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Alagoas antwren

Myrmotherula snowi

Common name:

Alagoas antwren (en); choquinha-de-Alagoas (pt); myrmidon de Snow (fr); hormiguerito de Alagoas (es); nördlicher einfarbameisenschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thamnophilidae

Range:

This South American species is endemic to the Atlantic forest of south-eastern Brazil, being found in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco.

Size:

This small passerine is 9-10 cm long and weighs 6-8 g.

Habitat:

The habitat of the Alagoas antwren are tropical and subtropical moist upland forests of the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

Diet:

Their diet consists of arthropods, including spiders, beetles, ants and cockroaches.

Breeding:

The Alagoas antwren breeds in February-May. The nest is placed on a tree and the female lays 2 eggs which are incubated for 14-17 days by both sexes. The young leave the nest soon after hatching and follow their parents about, seeking food and shelter.

Conservation:

IUCN status - CR (Critically endangered)

This species is believed to be declining very rapidly owing to the ongoing and rapid loss of remaining forest habitat. The global population is currently estimated at just 50-250 individuals, justifying the current critically endangered status. The massive clearance of Atlantic forest in Alagoas and Pernambuco has left few other sites likely to support populations of this species. Having a mountain distribution that is close to the maximum altitude within its range, this species is also potentially susceptible to climate change.