Mackenziaena leachii
The Large-tailed Antshrike, Mackenziaena leachii, is a striking and sizable passerine within the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), renowned for its pronounced sexual dimorphism and impressive tail. Males are entirely glossy black, often appearing with a slight bluish sheen, measuring around 25 cm (10 inches) in length and weighing 45-60 grams, featuring a short crest and a broad, hooked bill. Females are equally distinctive, sporting dark brown upperparts and head, rufous-chestnut underparts w...
Inhabits the understory and mid-story of humid, primary and mature secondary Atlantic Forest, particularly favoring areas with dense vine tangles or bamboo thickets, typically at elevations between 300-1500 meters.
Primarily carnivorous, feeding on large insects (beetles, orthopterans, larvae), spiders, and occasionally small vertebrates like frogs or lizards, obtained through gleaning and sally-gleaning.
The Large-tailed Antshrike is a largely diurnal species, typically active during daylight hours, often moving deliberately through the dense undergrowth. It primarily forages by sally-gleaning, darting out from a perch to snatch insects from foliage or branches, and also gleans prey directly from...
The Large-tailed Antshrike's distribution is restricted to the rapidly diminishing Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern South America. Its primary breeding and resident range spans a broad swathe of southeastern Brazil, extending from southern Bahia south through Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, ...
Near Threatened
- The Large-tailed Antshrike is one of the largest members of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), making it quite a robust presence in the forest understory. - Its genus, Mackenziaena, is monotypic, meaning it's the sole species in its genus, highlighting its unique evolutionary distinctiveness....