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 Darién National Park
Western Slaty-Antshrike
Thamnophilus atrinucha
Chestnut-backed Antbird
Myrmeciza exsul
Black Antshrike
Thamnophilus nigriceps
White-bellied Antbird
Myrmeciza longipes
White-flanked Antwren
Myrmotherula axillaris
Dusky Antbird
Cercomacra tyrannina
Moustached Antwren
Myrmotherula ignota
Rusty-winged Antwren
Herpsilochmus frater
Spotted Antbird
Hylophylax naevioides
Bare-crowned Antbird
Gymnocichla nudiceps
Dot-winged Antwren
Microrhopias quixensis
Checker-throated Antwren
Epinecrophylla fulviventris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Great Antshrike in Darién National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Great Antshrike sighting in Darién National Park, based on 350 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Great Antshrike in Darién National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Great Antshrike in Darién National Park in our monthly data.