The chestnut-backed antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Region
Southwestern Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid lowland evergreen forests, including terra firme and seasonally flooded várzea, as well as river-edge thickets and second growth. It favors dense understory with vine tangles, bamboo, and young secondary vegetation. The species is patchy but can be locally common where suitable thickets persist. It ranges across northern Bolivia, western Brazil (western Amazonia), and eastern Peru. Pairs maintain territories year-round.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A member of the antbird family, this species often travels in pairs that keep in touch with antiphonal duets. It forages quietly in dense undergrowth and occasionally follows army ant swarms to snatch flushed arthropods. The male’s rich chestnut back contrasts with boldly barred black-and-white underparts, making it one of the more striking antshrikes. It is a non-migratory bird of lowland Amazonian forests in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Thamnophilus palliatus illustration by Swainson, 1841
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief, low flights through understory
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs that maintain year-round territories and move together through the understory. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed low in dense vegetation. Pairs engage in coordinated duets and may join mixed-species flocks at forest edges.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a clear, evenly paced series of whistles that may accelerate slightly, often delivered antiphonally by the pair. Calls include sharp chips and churrs used for contact and alarm.
Plumage
Male shows a rich chestnut back and rump, contrasting with a darker head and boldly barred black-and-white underparts; wings typically show pale bars. Female is largely warm rufous-brown above with paler, buffy underparts and weaker barring. Both sexes have a stout, hooked bill suited to gleaning insects in dense cover.
Diet
Primarily consumes insects and other small arthropods such as beetles, spiders, and caterpillars. It gleans prey from leaves, vines, and twigs, and occasionally sallies to snatch moving insects. It sometimes follows army ant swarms to capture flushed prey and may take small vertebrates opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory, vine tangles, and bamboo stands, typically from near ground level up to a few meters high. Often works along forest edges, river margins, and in secondary growth where visibility is limited but prey is abundant.
