Frederickena unduliger
The Undulated Antshrike (Frederickena unduliger) is a robust and visually striking member of the antbird family, Thamnophilidae, native to the humid forests of Amazonian South America. Males are particularly distinctive, featuring a black body intricately patterned with fine white undulations or barring across the head, mantle, wings, and tail, complemented by a white throat and grayish belly, all topped with a prominent crest. Females present a different, equally beautiful appearance, being ...
Found primarily in the dense understory and mid-story of humid, undisturbed lowland evergreen forests, often near water bodies or in swampy areas, up to elevations of about 1400 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of large insects such as beetles, cockroaches, and crickets, as well as other arthropods like spiders, gleaned from vegetation.
The Undulated Antshrike is a largely solitary or paired diurnal bird, spending its days methodically foraging in the lower to middle strata of the forest. It employs a gleaning foraging strategy, carefully searching foliage, branches, and vines for prey, sometimes making short sallies. Though not...
The Undulated Antshrike has a widespread resident distribution across the western and central Amazon Basin in South America. Its range extends from southern Colombia, through eastern Ecuador and Peru, into northern Bolivia, and across western Brazil. Specifically, the nominate subspecies *F. u. u...
Least Concern
- The Undulated Antshrike is one of only three species in the genus *Frederickena*, making it part of a unique and small lineage within the diverse antbird family. - Despite its large size for an antshrike, it often remains hidden in the dense understory, making its distinctive, powerful vocaliza...