The white-bearded antshrike is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Argentina and Brazil.
Region
Atlantic Forest
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern and southern Brazil and extends into extreme northeastern Argentina (Misiones). It occupies the understory of humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests where bamboo (especially Guadua and Chusquea) dominates. The species is highly patchy, tracking mature bamboo stands and becoming scarce after bamboo die-offs. It tolerates some secondary growth if dense bamboo persists but avoids open or heavily degraded areas.
Altitude Range
200–1300 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This bamboo specialist is the sole member of the genus Biatas and lives almost entirely within dense thickets of native bamboo in the Atlantic Forest. Its dependence on episodic bamboo cycles makes its distribution patchy and vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation. Pairs are secretive, often detected by their clear, whistled song. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring bamboo-rich understory in remaining forest fragments.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, keeping low in dense bamboo and rarely joining mixed-species flocks. Pairs maintain territories year-round and communicate with soft calls from cover. Nesting is presumed to be a small, cup-like structure placed low in bamboo, with both sexes likely sharing parental duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, whistled notes, often descending and delivered from concealed perches within bamboo. Also gives sharp scolds and soft contact calls when foraging. Duets between pair members can occur, aiding territory maintenance.
Plumage
Male is mostly dark slate to blackish with a conspicuous white throat and upper-breast 'beard'; wings and tail plain. Female is warm brown to rufescent above with paler, lightly streaked underparts and a subtler pale throat. Both sexes have dense, soft plumage suited to moving through bamboo thickets.
Diet
Primarily hunts insects and other small arthropods, including beetles, ants, caterpillars, and spiders. It gleans prey from bamboo culms, nodes, and leaf sheaths and occasionally probes into rolled leaves. Foraging is slow and methodical, often at close range within dense cover.
Preferred Environment
Feeds almost exclusively within dense bamboo thickets in the forest understory, typically 0.5–3 m above ground. It favors mature bamboo stands with abundant culms and leaf litter, and may use forest edges if bamboo is present.
