The bar-crested antshrike (Thamnophilus multistriatus) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.[1]
Some researchers suspected that the bar-crested antshrike should be treated as a subspecies of the chestnut-backed antshrike (T. palliatus).[2] This treatment was never accepted, and a study published in 2007 confirmed that the bar-crested antshrike is a full species.[3]
The bar-crested antshrike has these four subspecies:[1]
The bar-crested antshrike is long and weighs . Members of genus Thamnophilus are largish members of the antbird family; all have stout bills with a hook like those of true shrikes. This species exhibits marked sexual dimorphism though both sexes have a crest. Adult males of the nominate subspecies T. m. multistriatus are almost entirely plumaged with alternating black and white bars, including their crest. The exception is their face and throat, which are streaked black and white. Adult females have a cinnamon-rufous crest, crown, upperparts, wings, and tail. Their nape has a narrow band of black and white. The sides of their head and throat are streaked black and white. The rest of their underparts are barred with black and white with a reddish brown tinge on their lower flanks. Adults of both sexes have a yellowish iris. Subadult males resemble adult males with a yellowish-brown tinge on their body and flight feathers.[4] [5]
Subspecies T. m. brachyurus has a shorter tail than the nominate and the white bars on its underparts are wider. T. m. selvae also has a shorter tail than the nominate but its underparts' black bars are wider. T. m. oecotonophilus resembles selvae but with a longer tail.[4] [5] [6]
The bar-crested antshrike has a disjunct distribution. The subspecies are found thus:[4] [5] [6]
The bar-crested antshrike inhabits all levels of dry to humid deciduous and evergreen forest and second-growth scrub. It favors the forest edge with thickets and shrubby borders and also occurs in somewhat open areas like cultivated lands, gardens, orchards, and well-vegetated parks. In elevation it mostly ranges between 900and but occurs locally as low as 250-2NaN-2 on the Pacific side of Colombia. The 1951 specimen from Venezuela was taken at 1650-2NaN-2.[4] [5] [6]
The bar-crested antshrike is a year-round resident throughout its range.[6]
The bar-crested antshrike's diet is not known in detail but is thought to be mostly insects and other arthropods. Its foraging behavior is also little known, but is assumed to be similar to that of the barred antshrike (T. doliatus), which see here.[4]
The bar-crested antshrike's breeding season has not been fully documented but appears to include March to June.[4] [6] Nothing else is known about its breeding biology.[4]
The bar-crested antshrike's song is "much like Barred Antshrike but lazier with marked acceleration at end; typically 6-10 notes, dū, dü dü dü du du-du-da'da".[6]
The IUCN has assessed the bar-crested antshrike as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known but is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered locally fairly common to overall common.[4] [6] "Its preference for edge and second-growth habitats renders it of low sensitivity to environmental disturbance."[4]