The Barred Antshrike is one of the most widespread and common of the antbirds being found from Mexico to northern Argentina though absent from west of the Andes. See the distribution map at xeno-canto.

It is found in both humid and arid regions but not in deep forest.

They are usually found in pairs where it feeds on insects.

Both sexes have a bushy crest and yellow eyes but the male is strikingly barred black and white while the female is bright rufous above. The sub-species shown here T. d. radiatus is paler than most others with the barring on the male almost absent from the centre of the belly.