Typical Antbirds
Thamnophilidae
The antbirds are a large passerine bird family, Thamnophilidae, found across subtropical and tropical Central and South America, from Mexico to Argentina. There are more than 230 species, known variously as antshrikes, antwrens, antvireos, fire-eyes, bare-eyes and bushbirds. They are related to the antthrushes and antpittas (family Formicariidae), the tapaculos, the gnateaters and the ovenbirds. Despite some species' common names, this family is not closely related to the wrens, vireos or shrikes.
Antbirds are generally small birds with rounded wings and strong legs. They have mostly sombre grey, white, brown and rufous plumage, which is sexually dimorphic in pattern and colouring. Some species communicate warnings to rivals by exposing white feather patches on their backs or shoulders. Most have heavy bills, which in many species are hooked at the tip.
60 branches of this family, most-observed first · about 238 known species
Typical Antshrikes
genusThamnophilus
Taraba
genusTaraba
Typical Antwrens
genusMyrmotherula
Antvireos
genusDysithamnus
Black-bellied Antwrens
genusFormicivora
Herpsilochmus Antwrens
genusHerpsilochmus
Long-tailed Antbirds
genusDrymophila
Poliocrania
genusPoliocrania
Spotted Antbirds
genusHylophylax
Cercomacroides Antbirds
genusCercomacroides
Fire-eyes
genusPyriglena
Bicolored Antbirds
genusGymnopithys
Sakesphorus Antshrikes
genusSakesphorus
Microrhopias
genusMicrorhopias
Fasciated and Bamboo Antshrikes
genusCymbilaimus
Black-faced Antbirds
genusMyrmoborus
Warbling-Antbirds
genusHypocnemis
Immaculate and Sooty Antbirds
genusHafferia
Cercomacra Antbirds
genusCercomacra
Pattern-breasted Antbirds
genusMyrmoderus
Thamnomanes Antshrikes
genusThamnomanes
Stipplethroats
genusEpinecrophylla
Large-tailed and Tufted Antshrikes
genusMackenziaena
Hypoedaleus
genusHypoedaleus
Spot-winged Antbirds
genusMyrmelastes
Scale-backed Antbirds
genusWillisornis
Phaenostictus
genusPhaenostictus
Rhopias
genusRhopias
Myrmeciza
genusMyrmeciza
Black-chinned and Band-tailed Antbirds
genusHypocnemoides
Streak-capped and Orange-bellied Antwrens
genusTerenura
Sclateria
genusSclateria
Batara
genusBatara
Sipia Antbirds
genusSipia
Sakesphoroides
genusSakesphoroides
Russet Antshrikes
genusThamnistes
Myrmophylax
genusMyrmophylax
Myrmorchilus
genusMyrmorchilus
Chestnut-tailed Antbirds
genusSciaphylax
Plain-throated and Rufous-bellied Antwrens
genusIsleria
Bare-eyes
genusPhlegopsis
Gymnocichla
genusGymnocichla
Black-headed and Allpahuayo Antbirds
genusPercnostola
Bare-eyed Antbirds
genusRhegmatorhina
White-shouldered and Goeldi's Antbirds
genusAkletos
Pygiptila
genusPygiptila
Biatas
genusBiatas
White-faced Antbirds
genusPithys
White-throated and Lunulated Antbirds
genusOneillornis
Radinopsyche
genusRadinopsyche
Rhopornis
genusRhopornis
Bright-shouldered Antwrens
genusEuchrepomis
Myrmochanes
genusMyrmochanes
Dichrozona
genusDichrozona
Frederickena Antshrikes
genusFrederickena
Myrmornis
genusMyrmornis
Recurve-billed Bushbirds
genusClytoctantes
Neoctantes
genusNeoctantes
Aprositornis
genusAprositornis
Megastictus
genusMegastictus
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
—
geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
Drag the globe to turn it. Dots are where records exist, not a range map; darker means more records.
In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Thamnophilidae in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 15726.