Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Thamnophilidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

variable_antshrike
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Northeast Peru

variable_antshrike
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Urubamba, Cuzco

variable_antshrike
Age: Adult | Sex: Males | Loc. Puno, Peru

variable_antshrike
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Northeast Peru


Identification & Behavior: ~14.5 cm (5.7 in). The male Variable Antshrike is jet black with white wing bars and white tips on the tail. Some males have whitish speckling on the belly. The female has gray upperparts and head with wing coverts fringed with brown. The breast is lighter gray and grades to a rufous belly. It forages at forest edges and second growth. The male is unmistakable in its range. The female superficially resembles a female Uniform Antshrike.

Status: The Variable Antshrike is uncommon in humid montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 600-3000 m. It also occurs in Br and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Batará Variable.

Sub-species: Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens melanochrous), P. L. Sclater and Salvin, 1876. E slope of Andes in Peru (from Amazonas S of R Marañón S to N Puno).
(Thamnophilus caerulescens aspersiventer), d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837.  SE Peru (SE Puno) and WC Bolivia (N slope in La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz).

Meaning of Name: Thamnophilus: Gr. Thamnos= bush and philos= lover. caerulescens: L. caerulescens, caerulescentis= bluish.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae  peru aves

Distribution Mapvariable antshrike
Voice


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