Black-backed antshrike

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Black-backed antshrike
A black-backed antshrike in Colombia on 13 January 2019

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Thamnophilus
Species:
T. melanonotus
Binomial name
Thamnophilus melanonotus
Synonyms

Sakesphorus melanonotus

The black-backed antshrike (Thamnophilus melanonotus) is a species of

Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.[2]

Taxonomy and systematics

The black-backed antshrike was

polyphyletic and that three species including the black-backed antshrike were embedded within a clade containing members of Thamnophilus. The black-backed antshrike was therefore moved back to its original genus.[4][2]

The black-backed antshrike is

monotypic.[2]

Black-backed antshrike

Description

The black-backed antshrike is 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long. Members of genus Thamnophilus are largish members of the antbird family; all have stout bills with a hook like those of true

crissum are white. Adult females have a dark brown crown with cinnamon edges to the feathers. Their face is buff. Their upperparts are brown with dark centers to the feathers. Their wings and wing coverts are brownish black with pale buff edges and tips. Their tail is rufous-brown with whitish tips and edges to the feathers. Their underparts are buff that is somewhat whiter on the belly. Subadult males resemble adult females with some black feathers beginning to show.[5][6][7]

Distribution and habitat

The black-backed antshrike has a disjunct distribution. It is found on the Caribbean slope from northern Colombia as far south as northern Bolívar Department and east into northwestern Venezuela as far as Miranda state. A second population is found in the Zulia River valley in Colombia's Norte de Santander Department and the adjacent Cordillera de Mérida in western Venezuela. The species inhabits the understorey to mid-storey of dry deciduous forest, where it favors areas with dense vine thickets. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Colombia and to 1,300 m (4,300 ft) in Venezuela, though in the latter country it is mostly found below 500 m (1,600 ft).[5][6][7]

Behavior

Movement

The black-backed antshrike is thought to be a year-round resident throughout its range.[5]

Feeding

The black-backed antshrike's diet is primarily insects and probably also includes other small

mixed-species feeding flock. It forages mostly on and near the ground up to about 6 m (20 ft) above it, and especially in vine tangles. It feeds by gleaning, with short upward jumps, and by pouncing to the ground. It occasionally follows army ant swarms.[5][6][7]

Breeding

The black-backed antshrike breeds between March and July in northern Colombia; its season in Venezuela is not known. Its one known nest was an open cup suspended in a branch fork; it contained two eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.[5][7]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to black-backed antshrike on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The black-backed antshrike apparently has two songs, "a single soft cuua [and] a short, nasal roll, qurrrrrr". Its other vocalizations include "a short nasal caaa-aa, a nasal grunting, rolled gur'r'a, and soft nasal ca-hunk?".[7]

Status

The

IUCN has assessed the black-backed antshrike as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered uncommon in Colombia and uncommon and local in Venezuela.[6][7] It occurs in one protected area in Venezuela. "Conversion of much of the dry and semi-deciduous forest of the region to agriculture (particularly pasture for goats) is a potential threat that needs to be monitored."[5]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22701263A93820576.en
    . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^
    Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2024). "Antbirds"
    . IOC World Bird List. v 14.1. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. ^ Sclater, Philip L. (1855). "Characters of six new species of the genus Thamnophilus". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 23 (285): 18- [19] Plate 80.
  4. ^ Brumfield, R.T. (May 2007). "Proposal (278): Transfer some Sakesphorus species into Thamnophilus (Thamnophilidae)". South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Zimmer, K. and M.L. Isler (2020). Black-backed Antshrike (Thamnophilus melanonotus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blbant1.01 retrieved 15 March 2024
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-9827615-0-2
    .
  7. ^ a b c d e f Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela (second ed.). Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. pp. plate 40.
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