Thamnophilus melanothorax
The Band-tailed Antshrike (Thamnophilus melanothorax) is a striking, medium-sized antshrike belonging to the family Thamnophilidae, renowned for its pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are largely black, accentuated by a distinctive white band across the tail, contrasting chestnut flanks, and deep dark eyes, typically measuring around 14-15 cm in length and weighing 18-22 grams. Females, in contrast, display rufous-chestnut upperparts and plain, paler underparts, with a less prominent but sti...
Found in the understory of humid lowland terra firme forest, often near water sources, swamps, or along forest edges, typically at elevations up to 400 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of arthropods such as insects and spiders, which they glean from foliage and branches in the forest understory.
This diurnal antshrike typically forages in the dense undergrowth, often as part of mixed-species flocks, moving deliberately through vegetation. It primarily gleans arthropods from leaves, branches, and vines, occasionally making short sallies. Band-tailed Antshrikes are territorial, defending t...
The Band-tailed Antshrike is an endemic resident of a highly restricted region within eastern Amazonian Brazil. Its primary distribution lies south of the lower Amazon River, primarily encompassing parts of the states of Pará and Maranhão. Specifically, it is found east of the Xingu River, extend...
Vulnerable
- The Band-tailed Antshrike is endemic to a very small region of eastern Amazonian Brazil, making it a highly localized species. - It exhibits one of the most striking examples of sexual dimorphism among antshrikes, with males being predominantly black and females rufous-chestnut. - Despite its n...