Chestnut-backed Antshrike (Thamnophilus palliatus)

Identification & Behavior: ~16.5 cm (6.4 in). The Chestnut-backed Antshrike has the head, neck, and underparts heavily barred with black and white. The back and tail are rufous. The male has a black crown/crest, which is rufous on the female. The iris in both sexes is white. It forages in forest edges and second growth. It is very similar to a female Lined Antshrike but their ranges do not overlap.

Status: The Chestnut-backed Antshrike is fairly common in humid montane forests of the southeast slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 400-1700 m. It also occurs in Br and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Batará de Dorso Castaño.

Sub-species: Chestnut-backed Antshrike (Thamnophilus palliatus similis), J. T. Zimmer, 1933.  C Peru (Huánuco, Junín).
(Thamnophilus palliatus puncticeps), P. L. Sclater, 1890.  SE Peru (Cuzco, Puno), N Bolivia (Beni, La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz), and Brazil S of R Amazon and W of R Tapajós (extreme SE Amazonas E to extreme SW Pará, S to Rondônia and NW Mato Grosso).

Meaning of Name: Thamnophilus: Gr. Thamnos= bush and philos= lover. palliatus: L. pallium= cloak, mantle, palliates= cloaked, mantled.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae