The northern slaty antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Occurs from Venezuela and the Guianas through northern Brazil and into adjacent Colombia, Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. Prefers lowland tropical forest, including terra firme and várzea, as well as edges, riverine thickets, and secondary growth. Often keeps to dense understory tangles from near the ground up to midstory. It tolerates some habitat disturbance and can be found along forest edges and clearings.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This antshrike is a typical understory hunter of tropical forests and often forages in pairs. It sometimes attends army-ant swarms to snatch insects and other arthropods flushed by the ants. Males are slaty-gray while females are warm rufous-brown, making the pair easy to sex in the field.
Northern slaty antshrike T. p. interpositus
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs that maintain and defend year-round territories. Nests are small cups placed low to mid-level in dense vegetation; both sexes participate in incubation and care of young. Often joins mixed-species flocks at times but usually forages quietly within dense cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, accelerating whistles that may end with a slightly descending note. Pairs often duet, with the female giving softer, complementary notes. Calls include sharp chips and scolds when alarmed.
Plumage
Male is uniform slaty-gray with small whitish spots on the wing coverts forming faint wingbars; female is rich rufous-brown above with paler, buffy underparts and similar pale wing spots. Both sexes have a sturdy, slightly hooked bill and relatively long tail.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects and other arthropods such as spiders, beetles, and orthopterans. Gleans prey from leaves, twigs, and vines, and will sally short distances to grab flushed prey. Occasionally follows army ant swarms to capture disturbed invertebrates.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory of lowland forest, along edges, and in secondary growth thickets. Often stays within 0.5–3 m above the ground, working through vine tangles and sapling clusters.
