En bref

• Scientific Name: Mackenziaena severa
• Spanish Name: Batará Copetón
• Family: Thamnophilidae
• Known Nicknames: Tufted Antshrike
• Average Length: 23–26 cm / 9–10 in
• Average Weight: 50–70 g / 1.8–2.5 oz
• Envergure : N/A
• Key Feature: Prominent black crest and heavily barred black-and-white underparts (male); rufous-brown with black barring (female)
• Primary Diet: Primarily Insectivore (also small vertebrates and berries)
• Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
• Habitat: Understory of humid Atlantic Forest and dense secondary growth
• Social Structure: Solitary or in Pairs
• Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nest in low vegetation or a tree fork
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Tufted Antshrike (*Mackenziaena severa*) is a striking and enigmatic bird of South America’s Atlantic Forest, renowned for its severe, scowling expression and the male’s dramatic, shaggy crest of long, black feathers that fan out like a wild mane. Both sexes are clad in a uniform, sooty black plumage with faint, paler barring on the belly, but the male is distinguished by bold white spots on his wing coverts, while the female has a rich, rusty-brown crown and throat. A special feature of this species is its exceptionally thick, hooked bill, adapted for capturing large insects and small vertebrates, and its unique, harsh, descending whistle—often the only clue to its presence as it skulks silently through dense undergrowth. Despite its fierce name, the Tufted Antshrike is a shy and elusive bird, rarely seen in the open, making any sighting a memorable encounter for birdwatchers.

Faits amusants

The Tufted Antshrike’s most quirky behavior is its "ant-following" strategy: it doesn’t eat the ants themselves but perches low to snatch insects and small vertebrates flushed out by army ant swarms, often hanging upside-down like a tiny acrobat to grab fleeing prey. Its tufted crown feathers can be raised into a dramatic, devil-horned crest during territorial disputes or when startled, giving it a surprisingly fierce expression for a bird only 20 cm long. Unique among its relatives, this species has a specialized, hooked bill tip that it uses to pry loose bark and dead leaves, accessing hidden spiders and katydids that other insectivores miss.

Habitats et répartition

The Tufted Antshrike is found primarily in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern South America, ranging from eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina into southeastern Brazil. Its habitat consists of the dense understory of humid lowland and montane forests, including both primary and mature secondary growth, where it favors tangled vegetation, bamboo thickets, and forest edges near watercourses. It avoids open areas and is typically associated with the interior of well-structured forests, though it may persist in degraded fragments if sufficient cover remains.

Comportements & Reproduction

The tufted antshrike is typically observed in monogamous pairs that defend a territory year-round, with both sexes participating in duet calls to reinforce pair bonds and repel rivals. During the breeding season, which varies regionally but often aligns with the rainy season, the pair builds a cup-shaped nest in dense understory vegetation. The female lays two to three eggs, and both parents share incubation duties for about 16-18 days, a relatively long period for a passerine. After hatching, the chicks are fed by both adults, and the family group remains cohesive until the young disperse. A unique strategy involves the male’s intense vigilance and aggressive defense of the nest site, often including distraction displays to lure potential predators away from the eggs or chicks.

Alimentation

The Tufted Antshrike is primarily an insectivore, with its diet heavily centered on a wide variety of arthropods, including large beetles, caterpillars, ants, grasshoppers, and spiders. An interesting facet of its feeding behavior is that it often forages in the dense understory and vine tangles, methodically gleaning prey from leaves and bark rather than sallying out to catch flying insects. Furthermore, while insects form the bulk of its nutrition, it is known to occasionally supplement its diet with small fruits and berries, particularly during the non-breeding season when insect availability may decline.

Couleurs

The male Tufted Antshrike is predominantly black with a slate-gray back and a shaggy, erectile black crest, while the female is a rich rufous-brown with a buffy throat and pale streaking on the underparts. Both sexes have a stout, hooked bill and a distinctive white patch on the wing coverts, visible in flight. Their dark, mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage in the dense understory of South American forests.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.

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Détails de l'attraction

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Featured places

• Parque Nacional do Itatiaia