Typical Antbirds (Thamnophilidae)
Great Antshrike (Taraba major) - HBW 8, p. 537
French: Grand Batara
German: Weißbrust-Ameisenwürger
Spanish: Batará Mayor
Taxonomy: Thamnophilus major Vieillot, 1816, Paraguay.
Relationships uncertain; relationship to the Thamnophilus doliatus complex suggested by vocalizations and by barred plumage of juvenile. Two main plumage types, one N & W of Andes (races melanocrissus, obscurus, transandeanus, granadensis), the other E of Andes (remaining races); the two populations may merit separate species status if apparent parapatry in Venezuela (Miranda) and possibly significant vocal differences are substantiated. Otherwise, plumage differences in populations of Central America and the Pacific slope appear to be clinal, and recogn.. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Thamnophilus major Vieillot, 1816, Paraguay.
Relationships uncertain; relationship to the Thamnophilus doliatus complex suggested by vocalizations and by barred plumage of juvenile. Two main plumage types, one N & W of Andes (races melanocrissus, obscurus, transandeanus, granadensis), the other E of Andes (remaining races); the two populations may merit separate species status if apparent parapatry in Venezuela (Miranda) and possibly significant vocal differences are substantiated. Otherwise, plumage differences in populations of Central America and the Pacific slope appear to be clinal, and recognition of geographical races possibly not warranted; further study required. Plumage and vocal differences of races E of Andes more substantial, but careful analysis required to determine extent of intergradation and constancy of characters. Ten subspecies recognized.
Relationships uncertain; relationship to the Thamnophilus doliatus complex suggested by vocalizations and by barred plumage of juvenile. Two main plumage types, one N & W of Andes (races melanocrissus, obscurus, transandeanus, granadensis), the other E of Andes (remaining races); the two populations may merit separate species status if apparent parapatry in Venezuela (Miranda) and possibly significant vocal differences are substantiated. Otherwise, plumage differences in populations of Central America and the Pacific slope appear to be clinal, and recognition of geographical races possibly not warranted; further study required. Plumage and vocal differences of races E of Andes more substantial, but careful analysis required to determine extent of intergradation and constancy of characters. Ten subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- melanocrissus (P. L. Sclater, 1860) - Caribbean slope from E Mexico (E San Luis Potosí S to N Oaxaca, Tabasco and N Chiapas) S to W Panama (Bocas del Toro, in Almirante Bay region).
- obscurus J. T. Zimmer, 1933 - W Costa Rica (Pacific slope), Panama (except Almirante Bay region) and W Colombia (middle Cauca Valley, and Pacific slope except extreme SW).
- transandeanus (P. L. Sclater, 1855) - Pacific slope of extreme SW Colombia (Nariño), W Ecuador, and extreme NW Peru (Tumbes).
- melanocrissus (P. L. Sclater, 1860) - Caribbean slope from E Mexico (E San Luis Potosí S to N Oaxaca, Tabasco and N Chiapas) S to W Panama (Bocas del Toro, in Almirante Bay region).
- obscurus J. T. Zimmer, 1933 - W Costa Rica (Pacific slope), Panama (except Almirante Bay region) and W Colombia (middle Cauca Valley, and Pacific slope except extreme SW).
- transandeanus (P. L. Sclater, 1855) - Pacific slope of extreme SW Colombia (Nariño), W Ecuador, and extreme NW Peru (Tumbes).
- granadensis (Cabanis, 1872) - N & C Colombia (Caribbean slope from Magdalena S to Córdoba, S in Magdalena Valley to Tolima, and base of E Andes in Arauca, Casanare, Boyacá and Meta) and NW Venezuela (Zulia and Táchira E to W Miranda).
- semifasciatus (Cabanis, 1872) - extreme E Colombia (Vichada), and NE & S Venezuela (E Miranda E to Paria Peninsula, and S of R Orinoco), Trinidad, the Guianas, and NE & SC Amazonian Brazil (S to R Negro and R Amazon and, S of R Amazon, from extreme E Amazonas E to W Maranhão and S to N Mato Grosso and NW Goiás).
- duidae Chapman, 1929 - Mt Duida, in Amazonas, S Venezuela.
- melanurus (P. L. Sclater, 1855) - SE Colombia (Caquetá, Putumayo, Amazonas), E Ecuador, E Peru and SW Amazonian Brazil (S of R Amazon in W Amazonas and Acre E to middle R Purus and N bank of R Abunã).
- borbae (Pelzeln, 1868) - SC Amazonian Brazil (E Amazonas along lower R Purus and R Madeira, and extreme N Rondônia).
- stagurus (M. H. K. Lichtenstein, 1823) - E & NE Brazil (E Maranhão E to Pernambuco and S to E Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo).
- major (Vieillot, 1816) - N & E Bolivia, SC Brazil (S Mato Grosso, S Goiás, W Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and W São Paulo), W Paraguay (E to both banks of R Paraguay) and N Argentina (S to Córdoba and N Buenos Aires).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A male in a tree, moving among branches. Locality Serra de Baturité, Ceará State, Brazil (ssp stagurus)
Josep del Hoyo 2 October 2008 2 years ago 37 sec 4.2 -
A male in hand. Locality Estancia San Miguel, Beni Department, Bolivia (ssp major)
Josep del Hoyo 8 September 2005 5 years ago 48 sec 4 -
A male moving in bushes and looking around. Locality Floresta Nacional de Carajás, Pará State, Brazil (ssp semifasciatus)
Josep del Hoyo 12 August 2011 21 weeks ago 21 sec 4 -
A male rubbing its bill, calling softly and moving among branches. Locality Serra de Baturité, Ceará State, Brazil (ssp stagurus)
Josep del Hoyo 2 October 2008 2 years ago 28 sec 4 -
a male singing after playback of its song Locality Río Grande, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela (ssp semifasciata)
DAVID ASCANIO 6 March 2008 48 weeks ago 1 min 17 sec 3.5 -
A male looking around on a branch and jumping up to a higher one Locality Pousada Aguapé, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil (ssp major)
Josep del Hoyo 9 January 2005 3 years ago 14 sec 3.5
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That is a Male looking for food,
Locality Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
SIRROYALTY 1 June 2011 35 weeks ago 4.6 -
Male
Locality Transpantaneira Road, Pantanal, Mato Grosso State, Brazil
Juan Carlos Marín 30 September 2008 2 years ago 4.3 -
Male Great Antshrike
Locality Bahia State, Brazil
Stephen John Jones 3 January 2009 1 year ago 4 -
Lateral view of female perched on a branch
Locality Asa Wright Nature Centre, Arima Valley, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago (ssp semifasciatus)
Mikko Pyhälä 29 May 2010 1 year ago 4 -
Male on ground holding tail up
Locality Carabobo State, Venezuela (ssp granadensis)
Mikko Pyhälä 21 December 2008 3 years ago 4 -
Female bird caught a huge moth
Locality Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela (ssp granadensis)
Mikko Pyhälä 21 December 2008 3 years ago 3.9
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Male loudsong. Locality Yacambú National Park, Lara State, Venezuela
Nacho Areta 10 April 2005 2 years ago 4 -
A bird calling. Locality Amazonia National Park, Pará State, Brazil
(ssp semifasciatus)
Josep del Hoyo 20 August 2010 1 year ago 3.7
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