Thamnophilus palliatus
The Chestnut-backed Antshrike, *Thamnophilus palliatus*, is a striking medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 16-17 cm (6.3-6.7 in) in length and weighing 24-30g. Males are instantly recognizable by their glossy black head, stark white underparts, and rich, rufous-chestnut back and wings, with white barring on the wing coverts. Females exhibit strong sexual dimorphism, generally mirroring the male's pattern but often with a more rufous-brown crown and nape, sometimes with a slightly dull...
This species primarily inhabits the understory and mid-story of tropical and subtropical humid forests, secondary growth, and forest edges, often found in vine tangles or bamboo. It is typically found at elevations ranging from lowlands up to 1,300-1,500 meters (4,300-4,900 feet) in Andean foothi...
The diet primarily consists of insects and other arthropods, such as beetles, orthopterans, spiders, and caterpillars, which they glean from leaves and branches. Occasionally, they consume small fruits.
Chestnut-backed Antshrikes are diurnal and active foragers, spending their day gleaning insects from foliage and branches, often in the mid-story of dense vegetation. They are frequently observed participating in mixed-species foraging flocks, sometimes acting as a nuclear species, moving with ot...
The Chestnut-backed Antshrike exhibits a disjunct distribution across South America, primarily within two major areas. The largest population spans the Amazon Basin, extending from southeastern Colombia and eastern Ecuador, south through eastern Peru and northern Bolivia, and eastward across vast...
Least Concern
- The scientific name *palliatus* is Latin for 'cloaked', referring to its distinctive chestnut 'cloak' or mantle on its back. - Males and females often perform synchronized duets, where each bird sings a specific part of the complex song. - This antshrike frequently acts as a core member of mixe...