Tufted Antshrike

About the Tufted Antshrike

The tufted antshrike (Mackenziaena severa) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The tufted antshrike shares genus Mackenziaena with the large-tailed antshrike (M. leachii). However, there is some doubt about how closely they are related, with evidence that the tufted antshrike is more closely related to the three species of genus Frederickena. Both species are monotypic.

The tufted antshrike is a large dark antbird, 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in) long and weighing 50 to 80 g (1.8 to 2.8 oz). The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, though both sexes have a crest (that usually is flattened), red irises, and a moderately long black bill with a hook at the end like true shrikes. Adult males are mostly sooty gray with a blackish forehead and crest and browish black wings. Adult females are mostly blackish brown. Their forehead and crest are rufous, their upperparts have cinnamon bars, their tail has faint paler bars, and their underparts have pale buff bars. Subadult males resemble adult males but are more brownish overall... Wikipedia →