Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis)
Male Black-crested Antshrike, Ilha São José, Roraima, Brazil, July 2001 - click for larger image Brazil

The Black-crested Antshrike is a handsome bird found from north and east Colombia, through Venezuela and into the Guianas and the rio Negro / rio Branco areas of north Brazil. There is also a population in north-east Peru and in the Serra do Cachimbo area of north Mato Grosso with suggestions that it may be found in some intervening areas.

Male Black-crested Antshrike, Ilha São José, Roraima, Brazil, July 2001 - click for larger image In most of its range it is seen in light woodland, scrub and savanna but along the rivers Negro and Branco where we saw the birds, it favours the shrubs and trees close to the water's edge.

They are usually found in pairs.

Female Black-crested Antshrike, Anavilhanas, Amazonas, Brazil, July 2001 - click for larger image The male has a mostly black head with a conspicuous crest. It has a narrow white collar and whitish underparts with browny-grey flanks. It has a brown back and black wings with white edgings and white tips to the tail. The female has a chestnut crest with a pale brown face with black specks. It has black streaks on its buffy breast.
Female Black-crested Antshrike, Ilha São José, Roraima, Brazil, July 2001 - click for larger image The bird has nothing to do with Canada and, according to Jobling the specific name canadensis was wrongly applied where cayennensis was intended.

There is an illustration in Hilty & Brown, Plate 27.

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