Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-crested Antshrike
Sakesphorus canadensis
Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) is a member of the Thamnophilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 24.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thamnophilidae Antbirds
- Genus Sakesphorus
- Species canadensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-crested Antshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-crested Antshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) is a species of bird in the Thamnophilidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA e Colombia to Guianas, Trinidad and n Amazonia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.1 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-crested Antshrike?
The Black-crested Antshrike is a small bird that weighs around 24.4 g.
Where does the Black-crested Antshrike live?
The Black-crested Antshrike is found across South America with a range covering SA e Colombia to Guianas, Trinidad and n Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-crested Antshrike belong to?
The Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) belongs to the Thamnophilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-crested Antshrike eat?
The Black-crested Antshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-crested Antshrike migrate?
The Black-crested Antshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-crested Antshrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-crested Antshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Black-crested Antshrike — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-crested Antshrike's range?
The Black-crested Antshrike has a mapped global range of about 1.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Thamnophilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thamnophilidae
A field guide to the Thamnophilidae family — 240 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.