male Barred Antshrike

The Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) is among the most common antbirds in its range. It occurs from Mexico in the north up to Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Paraguay in the south. It has even been recorded in southern Texas once. In this huge region, the birds are adapted to a wide variety of habitats including forests, parks, and gardens in dry and humid areas. While the male Barred Antshrike is characterized by its black-and-white plumage, the female is of a rufous colour. Although the birds tend to live in pairs occupying a certain territory, I could spot only the male during a walk through the Punta Culebra Nature Center on Naos, near Panama City, Panama, in February 2014. At least, the bird raised its black crest to show off and look pretty on the photograph. I hope you like it!

In general, the birds can be found in the lower parts of forests or on the ground, where they search for insects or seeds. The pair builds a small nest in a bush and incubates the two eggs together.