Spot-backed Antshrike

About the Spot-backed Antshrike

The spot-backed antshrike (Hypoedaleus guttatus) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The spot-backed antshrike was described by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816 and given the binomial name Thamnophilus guttatus. The genus Hypoedaleus was erected by the German ornithologists Jean Cabanis and Ferdinand Heine in 1860 with the spot-backed antshrike as the type species. The name of the genus is from the Ancient Greek hupoidaleos meaning "somewhat swollen". The specific epithet is from the Latin guttatus meaning "spotted" or "speckled".

The spot-backed antshrike is the only member of genus Hypoedaleus and it has no subspecies. The spot-backed antshrike is a large antbird, 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long. The species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism. Both sexes have a short, heavy, gray bill with a hook at the end like true shrikes. Adult males have a black crown, nape, and upperparts spotted with white and a brownish black tail with white bars. Their throat and breast are white and their sides pale gray. Their... Wikipedia →