Thamnophilus bridgesi
The Black-hooded Antshrike (Thamnophilus bridgesi) is a striking passerine endemic to the humid lowlands and foothills of the Pacific slopes of Costa Rica and western Panama. This medium-sized bird, typically measuring 16-17 cm (6.3-6.7 in) in length and weighing 25-30g, exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, making identification straightforward. Males are easily recognized by their glossy black head and throat, contrasting sharply with a dark gray body, white wing bars, and distinctive rufo...
Primarily found in the dense understory and mid-story of humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, forest edges, and mature secondary growth. It occurs from sea level up to approximately 1000-1100 meters in elevation.
The diet consists primarily of insects and other arthropods, which they glean meticulously from dense foliage, bark, and sometimes ground litter. They are primarily insectivorous.
Black-hooded Antshrikes are diurnal and typically observed singly or in pairs, maintaining strong pair bonds year-round within a defended territory. They forage actively, gleaning insects and other arthropods from foliage, bark, and occasionally the ground, often joining mixed-species flocks to e...
The Black-hooded Antshrike is a resident species restricted to a relatively narrow geographic range along the Pacific lowlands and foothills of Central America. Its distribution extends from the central Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, southward through the Osa Peninsula, and into western Panam...
Least Concern
- The Black-hooded Antshrike is endemic to a relatively narrow strip along the Pacific slopes of Costa Rica and western Panama. - Its scientific name, Thamnophilus bridgesi, honors Dr. Thomas Bridges, an English naturalist and collector who worked in Central and South America. - Unlike many other...