Brazilian name: chocão-carijó

While the Spot-backed Antshrike is relatively common at some sites, they are usually up in the canopy and therefore quite difficult to see.

They are to be found at forest edges and in secondary woodland in south and east Brazil and eastern Paraguay.

The male is black above with bold white spots and white bands on its black tail. Its underparts are white with black spots turning to buff and ochraceous on its flanks and undertail coverts. The female, seen here in photo 2, is similar but is entirely tinged ochraceous below while the spots above have a buff tinge.

Many authorities split the species into two races, H. g. guttatus from the southern part of the range seen here in photos 1 to 3 and H. g. leucogaster from Espírito Santo northwards seen here in photo 4.