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 →
Recent sightings of Great Antshrike in Madidi National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Madidi National Park
Chestnut-tailed Antbird
Myrmeciza hemimelaena
Black-faced Antbird
Myrmoborus myotherinus
Upland Antshrike
Thamnophilus aroyae
Plain Antvireo
Dysithamnus mentalis
Black-throated Antbird
Myrmeciza atrothorax
Rusty-winged Antwren
Herpsilochmus frater
Plain-winged Antshrike
Thamnophilus schistaceus
East Amazonian Fire-eye
Pyriglena leuconota
Black-capped Antwren
Herpsilochmus atricapillus
Fasciated Antshrike
Cymbilaimus lineatus
Stripe-chested Antwren
Myrmotherula longicauda
White-browed Antbird
Myrmoborus leucophrys
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 Madidi National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Great Antshrike sighting in Madidi National Park, based on 131 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Great Antshrike in Madidi National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Great Antshrike in Madidi National Park in our monthly data.