Kingdom Animalia Scientific name Thamnistes anabatinus Higher classification Thamnistes Order Passerine | Family Thamnophilidae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Genus Thamnistes
Sclater & Salvin, 1860 Similar Slaty antwren, Dot‑winged antwren, Black‑crowned antshrike, Spot‑winged antshrike, Dull‑mantled antbird | ||
Russet antshrike
The russet antshrike (Thamnistes anabatinus) is a passerine bird in the antbird family. It is the only member of the genus Thamnistes.
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It is a resident breeder in the tropical New World from southern Mexico to northern Bolivia.
It is a bird of forest, old second growth, semi-open woodland and edges up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. The female lays two brown-speckled white eggs in a deep cup nest 7–15 m (23–49 ft) high in a tree, usually in a semi-open location. Nest-building, incubation, and care of the young are shared by both sexes.
The russet antshrike is a small antbird, typically 14 cm (5.5 in) long and weighing 21 g (0.74 oz). It has a heavy hooked bill and brown upperparts, becoming rufous on the wings and tail. It has a dark eyestripe and a buff supercilium. The underparts are olive buff. Sexes are similar, but the male has a concealed rufous-orange patch in the centre of his back. Young birds are similar to the adults, but have rufous fringes to the wing coverts and are paler below. The call is a squeaky sweek, and the song is cheep cheep CHEEP CHEEP cheep.
The russet antshrike feeds on insects and other arthropods, which it gleans from foliage like a vireo. It may be seen alone, in pairs, or with tanagers and warblers in mixed-species feeding flocks