Russet antshrike
| Russet antshrike | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thamnophilidae |
| Genus: | Thamnistes Sclater & Salvin, 1860 |
| Species: | T. anabatinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Thamnistes anabatinus (Sclater & Salvin, 1860) | |
The russet antshrike (Thamnistes anabatinus) is a passerine bird in the antbird family. It is the only member of the genus Thamnistes.
It is a resident breeder in the tropical New World from southern Mexico to northern Bolivia.
It is a bird of forest, old second growth, semi-open woodland and edges up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. The female lays two brown-speckled white eggs in a deep cup nest 7–15 m (23–49 ft) high in a tree, usually in a semi-open location. Nest-building, incubation, and care of the young are shared by both sexes.
The russet antshrike is a small antbird, typically 14 cm (5.5 in) long and weighing 21 g (0.74 oz). It has a heavy hooked bill and brown upperparts, becoming rufous on the wings and tail. It has a dark eyestripe and a buff supercilium. The underparts are olive buff. Sexes are similar, but the male has a concealed rufous-orange patch in the centre of his back. Young birds are similar to the adults, but have rufous fringes to the wing coverts and are paler below. The call is a squeaky sweek, and the song is cheep cheep CHEEP CHEEP cheep.
The russet antshrike feeds on insects and other arthropods, which it gleans from foliage like a vireo. It may be seen alone, in pairs, or with tanagers and warblers in mixed-species feeding flocks
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Thamnistes anabatinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4