The black-hooded antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Region
Central America
Typical Environment
Occurs on the Pacific slope of southern Costa Rica into western Panama, favoring lowland and foothill humid forests. It uses dense understory in primary forest as well as edges and tall secondary growth, often near streams and in vine tangles. The species also occupies semi-open thickets, old second growth, and shaded agroforestry plots like cacao when sufficient understory exists. It is largely absent from heavily disturbed, open areas and very dry habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The black-hooded antshrike is a skulking understory bird of humid Pacific-slope forests in southern Costa Rica and western Panama. It is typically encountered in pairs, keeping close contact with soft calls as they move through dense vine tangles. Males have a striking black hood, while females are warm rufous-brown, making the pair easy to sex in the field. Like many antbirds, it occasionally attends army-ant swarms to snatch flushed prey.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs year-round, maintaining and defending small territories in dense understory. Nests are shallow cups placed low in shrubs or vine tangles; both sexes share incubation and chick-rearing duties. They may occasionally join mixed-species flocks along forest edges but often forage independently.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a clear, whistled series delivered from cover, often a short, even-paced sequence that tapers slightly at the end. Calls include sharp tchik or chek notes used to keep contact between pair members.
Plumage
Male shows a solid black hood and upper breast contrasting with gray to brownish upperparts and rufous-toned wings and tail; underparts are grayish. Female is warm rufous-brown above with buffy to cinnamon underparts and lacks the black hood. Both sexes have a sturdy, slightly hooked bill typical of antshrikes.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other arthropods, including beetles, ants, spiders, and caterpillars. It gleans prey from foliage, dead leaves, and vine tangles, and may sally to snatch prey from low branches. The species sometimes follows army-ant swarms to capture flushed invertebrates and will occasionally take small vertebrates such as tiny lizards.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory of humid forest, along edges, riparian thickets, and secondary growth with abundant tangles. Often stays 0.5–3 m above ground within dense cover, moving methodically through vegetation.
