Great Antshrike
Taraba major
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyThamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
- GenusTaraba
- SpeciesTaraba major (Great Antshrike)
About the Great Antshrike
The great antshrike (Taraba major) is a passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in southern Mexico, in every Central American country except El Salvador, on Trinidad, and in every mainland South American country except Chile, though only as a vagrant in Uruguay.
The great antshrike was described by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816 and given the binomial name Thamnophilus major. The current genus Taraba was introduced by the French naturalist René Lesson in 1831.
The great antshrike has these ten subspecies: The great antshrike is the only member of genus Taraba. Its closest relatives appear to be the fasciated and bamboo antshrikes of genus Cymbilaimus. The subspecies' vocalizations fall into two groups, T. m. melanocrissus through T. m. granadensis and T. m. semifasciatus through T. m. major. The first, found in Central America and mostly west of the Andes, may represent a separate species from the other, which are found east of the Andes. In addition, differences within the members of each group may not be significant enough in some cases to warrant subspecies status... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Chagres National Park
Western Slaty-Antshrike
Thamnophilus atrinucha
Spotted Antbird
Hylophylax naevioides
Bicolored Antbird
Gymnopithys leucaspis
Chestnut-backed Antbird
Myrmeciza exsul
Checker-throated Antwren
Epinecrophylla fulviventris
Barred Antshrike
Thamnophilus doliatus
Ocellated Antbird
Phaenostictus mcleannani
White-flanked Antwren
Myrmotherula axillaris
Dot-winged Antwren
Microrhopias quixensis
Wing-banded Antbird
Myrmornis torquata
Russet Antshrike
Thamnistes anabatinus
Dusky Antbird
Cercomacra tyrannina
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.