White-shouldered Antshrike (Thamnophilus aethiops)

White-shouldered Antshrike Thamnophilus aethiops

Brazilian name: Choca-lisa

Brazil

The White-shouldered Antshrike is distributed throughout most of the Amazon Basin with a disjunct population in north-east Brazil. It is found in the understorey of humid forest often at treefalls.

There are 9 or 10 sub-species which vary in the overall tone of black or grey and the amount of white dots on the wing-coverts. Photos 1 and 2 were taken at Borba, Amazonas and show a male of the sub-species T. a. punctuliger which is a paler grey than the nominate and shows a generous number of small white spots on the wing coverts. Note the heavy bill.

Male White-shouldered Antshrike, Tamandaré, Pernambuco, Brazil, October 2008 - click for larger image

Photos 3 to 6 were taken at Tamandaré, Pernambuco and show the sub-species T. a. distans, which is found in the disjunct area in north-east Brazil. The female (photos 5 and 6) is a deep reddish-brown.

It is usually found alone or in pairs and does not follow mixed-species flocks.

There are recordings on xeno-canto, a distribution map from NatureServe and additional information available via Avibase. There is also a page in Portuguese on Wikiaves.

Female White-shouldered Antshrike, Tamandaré, Pernambuco, Brazil, October 2008 - click for larger image

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