Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Variable Antshrike

Thamnophilus caerulescens Vieillot, 1816

14–16 cmLength21 gWeight

The variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds".

Busiest months: October · Most records: Brazil, Argentina, Peru

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October · Most records: Brazil, Argentina, Peru

Variable Antshrike has been recorded at 225 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 6 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de AndradeBrazil1,047 records
  2. PE IntervalesBrazil881 records
  3. PP Urugua-í – Seccional UruzúArgentina853 records
More places
  1. ACP Abra Patricia – Owlet LodgePeru675 records
  2. Salesópolis – Sítio MacuquinhoBrazil582 records
  3. Botucatu – Fazenda EdgárdiaBrazil577 records
  4. Santo André – Campo Grande e estrada do Rio ClaroBrazil548 records
  5. Paso Centurión – ÁreaUruguay522 records
  6. Parque Federal Campo San JuanArgentina479 records
  7. RPPN Pedra D'AntasBrazil471 records

Countries and regions with the most records

BrazilArgentinaPeruUruguayParaguayBolivia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Variable Antshrike?

The Variable Antshrike is about 14–16 cm long and weighs around 21 g.

Where does the Variable Antshrike live?

Its breeding range: South America: west-central, south-central, southeastern, eastern. It is most often recorded in Brazil, Argentina and Peru.

When is the best time to see the Variable Antshrike?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Variable Antshrike endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Variable Antshrike as Least Concern.

What does the Variable Antshrike eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Variable Antshrike in?

It belongs to the family Antbirds (Thamnophilidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
14–16 cm
Weight
21 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
69 mm
Tail
63 mm
Bill
17 mm
Tarsus
23 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: west-central, south-central, southeastern, eastern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Antbirds Thamnophilidae
Genus
Thamnophilus

Other birds in the genus Thamnophilus

Collared AntshrikeCollared AntshrikeThamnophilus bernardiBlack-backed AntshrikeBlack-backed AntshrikeThamnophilus melanonotusBand-tailed AntshrikeBand-tailed AntshrikeThamnophilus melanothoraxBarred AntshrikeBarred AntshrikeThamnophilus doliatusChapman's AntshrikeChapman's AntshrikeThamnophilus zarumaeBar-crested AntshrikeBar-crested AntshrikeThamnophilus multistriatusLined AntshrikeLined AntshrikeThamnophilus tenuepunctatusChestnut-backed AntshrikeChestnut-backed AntshrikeThamnophilus palliatusBlack-hooded AntshrikeBlack-hooded AntshrikeThamnophilus bridgesiBlack AntshrikeBlack AntshrikeThamnophilus nigricepsCocha AntshrikeCocha AntshrikeThamnophilus praecoxBlackish-grey AntshrikeBlackish-grey AntshrikeThamnophilus nigrocinereus
Variable Antshrike

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by joseluisblazquez. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages