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 Tayrona National Natural Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Tayrona National Natural Park
Western Slaty-Antshrike
Thamnophilus atrinucha
Barred Antshrike
Thamnophilus doliatus
White-bellied Antbird
Myrmeciza longipes
Northern White-fringed Antwren
Formicivora intermedia
Black-backed Antshrike
Thamnophilus melanonotus
Black-crested Antshrike
Sakesphorus canadensis
Santa Marta Antbird
Drymophila hellmayri
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Bicolored Wren
Campylorhynchus griseus
Crimson-backed Tanager
Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Buff-breasted Wren
Cantorchilus leucotis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.