Bamboo Antshrike (Cymbilaimus sanctaemariae)

Identification & Behavior: ~16.5 cm (6.4 in). The male Bamboo Antshrike is mostly blackish finely barred with white. It has a black cap the bird often erects. The female is rufous-brown barred with black with bicolored rufous and black cap. Both sexes have a dark iris. It forages almost exclusively in stands of Guadua sp. Bamboo. It is very similar to the Fasciated Antshrike but is distinguished by smaller size, a dark iris, a more slender bill, and by being restricted to bamboo stands. The also similar Barred Antshrike does not enter the forest interior. The Undulated Antshrike is larger and has a thicker bill.

Status: The Bamboo Antshrike is fairly common at stands of Guadua bamboo largely in Madre de Dios and part of Ucayali where it is known to range up to 1500 m along the east slope of the Andes. It also occurs in Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Batará de Bambú.

Sub-species: Bamboo Antshrike (Cymbilaimus sanctaemariae), Gyldenstolpe, 1941.

Meaning of Name: Cymbilaimus: L. cymba= small boat, skiff and Gr laimos= throat. sanctaemariae: L. Sancta Maria St Mary, Mother of God (Spanish Madre de Dios).

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae