Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis)

Identification & Behavior: ~16.4 cm (6.4 in). The male Black-crested Antshrike has a black head and black that extends down the breast and upper belly.  The upperparts and tail are blackish with the wing coverts fringed with white forming wing bars. The tail is tipped with white spots. It has a white semi-collar. The female is warm brown with a rufous crown/crest. The sides of the head, throat, and breast are speckled with black. It forages in dwarf vegetation that grows in permanently flooded or seasonally flooded forests, edges of lakes, and edges of slow flowing creeks. It is similar to the much larger Great Antshrike and also the Black and White Antbird, but its habitat preference is different.

Status: The Black-crested Antshrike is fairly common but local at the habitat type the species favors. It also occurs in Co, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Batará de Cresta Negra.

Sub-species: Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis loretoyacuensis), (E. Bartlett), 1882.

Meaning of Name: Sakesphorus: Gr sakos, sakeos= shield phoros, phero= bearing, to carry.  canadensis: Canada (taxa from Hudson’s Bay were also given this toponym). This may be a mislabeling.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae