The mouse-colored antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from southern Venezuela and the Guianas through northern and western Brazil to eastern Peru, Ecuador, and northern Bolivia, with outliers in Colombia. Prefers lowland rainforest, including terra firme, várzea, and igapó, as well as secondary growth and forest edges. Most often keeps to dense undergrowth, vine tangles, and bamboo thickets near the forest floor. It is generally uncommon to fairly common but easily overlooked due to its skulking habits.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A cryptic understory antshrike of the Amazon and Guiana Shield, it forages quietly in dense thickets where its uniform 'mouse-gray' tones provide camouflage. Typically found in pairs that maintain territories, the sexes often duet, helping partners stay in contact in dark forest. It primarily gleans insects from low vegetation and only occasionally joins mixed-species flocks or attends army-ant swarms.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs that maintain small territories in the understory. Pairs communicate with soft calls and duets while moving methodically through dense cover. The nest is a small cup placed low in vegetation; both parents attend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a short series of sharp, accelerating notes that may end in a trill, delivered from low perches. Calls include dry chips and scolds, often given antiphonally by the pair.
Plumage
Generally plain and finely textured, with the male appearing uniform mouse-gray and the female warmer brownish or buffy with slightly paler underparts. Both sexes show a fairly stout, hook-tipped bill typical of antshrikes and subtle pale edging on the wings. Tail is relatively long and often flicked while foraging.
Diet
Feeds mainly on arthropods such as beetles, spiders, caterpillars, and orthopterans, gleaned from leaves, twigs, and vine tangles. It uses short sallies and hover-gleans to pick prey from foliage, rarely pursuing prey in sustained flight. It seldom follows army-ant swarms compared to some other antbirds but may opportunistically exploit disturbed prey.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory of primary and secondary rainforest, bamboo stands, and along edges and streamside thickets. Most activity occurs within 0.5–3 m above ground where cover is thick.
