Black-hooded Antshrike

The Black-hooded Antshrike, a member of the Thamnophilidae family, is a bird of considerable charm, with a length ranging from 15 to 17 cm and a weight of 26 to 27 grams. These birds, with their stout, hook-tipped bills reminiscent of true shrikes, are a larger representation of the antbird family. The species is sexually dimorphic, with males donning a predominantly black plumage accented by a white patch between the scapulars and small white dots on the wing coverts. Females, on the other hand, exhibit a more subdued palette of blackish gray with white streaks on the head and olive underparts with white streaking.

Identification Tips

To identify the Black-hooded Antshrike, look for the male's striking black hood and the white patch on its back. Females can be recognized by their dark gray upperparts with white-edged scapulars and white-spotted wing coverts. Juveniles resemble the adults but are browner with more pronounced white spots on the wing coverts.

Habitat

This species thrives in the lush peripheries of lowland evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, as well as gallery forests, secondary woodlands, and mangroves. They are typically found from the understory to the mid-story, favoring areas dense with shrubs and tangled vines.

Distribution

The Black-hooded Antshrike graces the Pacific slopes of southern Costa Rica and extends its range through western Panama, up to Los Santos Province. It is most commonly found at elevations below 1,000 meters, though it can occasionally be spotted up to 1,200 meters in Costa Rica.

Behaviour

These birds are presumed to be year-round residents within their range. They forage either alone or in pairs and are known to join mixed-species feeding flocks. Their foraging technique involves hopping between branches and gleaning prey with quick, precise movements.

Song & calls

The male's song is a captivating series of accelerating staccato notes that culminate in a longer, lower pitch. Calls consist of an extended, plaintive note, often repeated several times, adding to the auditory tapestry of their habitat.

Breeding

Breeding season for the Black-hooded Antshrike spans from February to September in Costa Rica, with the timing in Panama yet to be determined. Their nests are artfully constructed cups of fine rootlets, adorned with green moss and secured with cobwebs. Clutch size is typically two eggs, with both parents sharing incubation duties by day and the female alone at night.

Diet and Feeding

While the full extent of their diet is not thoroughly documented, it is known to include insects and other arthropods such as spiders. These birds exhibit a preference for foraging in dense vegetation, from ground level to about 15 meters high, and are occasionally seen following army ant swarms to catch fleeing prey.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Black-hooded Antshrike as Least Concern, with an estimated population of at least 50,000 mature individuals. Despite this, the population is believed to be in decline. The species is considered rare in northern Costa Rica but common in the south. It has shown resilience in disturbed habitats but has vanished from much of its former range in Panama due to deforestation. Protected areas in Costa Rica offer hope for the continued support of this species.