Black antshrike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black antshrike |
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Thamnophilus
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| Species: |
nigriceps
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The black antshrike (Thamnophilus nigriceps) is a cool bird that eats insects. It belongs to a group of birds called "typical antbirds." You can find this bird in the countries of Colombia and Panama.
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About the Black Antshrike
The black antshrike was first described by an English zoologist named Philip Sclater in 1869. He gave it its scientific name, Thamnophilus nigriceps. It is a type of antbird. Antbirds are known for their strong beaks, which have a hook at the end, a bit like a shrike's beak.
What Does a Black Antshrike Look Like?
Black antshrikes are about 15 to 16 centimeters (6 inches) long. They weigh around 23 to 24 grams (less than an ounce).
Male and female black antshrikes look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism.
- Males: Adult males are almost completely black. They have dark gray sides. The feathers under their wings and the edges of their flight feathers are white.
- Females: Adult females have a blackish-gray head and upper chest. These parts have buff-white streaks, which look like thin lines. Their upper body, wings, and tail are a reddish-brown color. Their lower chest and belly are gray with more buff-white streaks. The amount of streaking can change from bird to bird.
Where Do Black Antshrikes Live?
You can find the black antshrike in eastern Panamá Province and Darién Province in Panama. From there, they live south into northern Colombia. In Colombia, they are found from the northern Chocó Department east to the Magdalena River valley.
These birds like to live in the edges of evergreen forests. They also live in areas where forests are regrowing after being cleared. You might also find them in secondary forests and open woodlands. They especially love thick bushes with lots of vines and thorns. They live from sea level up to about 600 meters (2,000 feet) high.
Black Antshrike Behavior
How Do They Move?
Black antshrikes live in the same area all year round. They do not migrate.
What Do They Eat?
Scientists believe black antshrikes eat insects and other small creatures like spiders. They usually look for food alone or in pairs. They don't often join large groups of different bird species that are feeding together.
They search for food in thick plants, usually close to the ground (within 2 meters or 7 feet). Sometimes, they might go as high as 7 meters (23 feet) up. They hop from branch to branch to pick up their prey.
Black Antshrike Sounds
The song of the black antshrike is a series of musical and strong notes. The notes get a little faster as the song goes on. Their calls include a "hollow, nasal note" that they sometimes repeat. They also make a "nasal growl" sound.
Black Antshrike Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the black antshrike is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. They have a large area where they live. Scientists estimate there are between 20,000 and 50,000 adult birds. However, this number is thought to be going down.
No big threats to the black antshrike have been found yet. They are common in some parts of Colombia. They also live in two national parks in Colombia.
