Photo: Dario Sanches from São Paulo, Brazil / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tufted Antshrike
Mackenziaena severa
Tufted Antshrike (Mackenziaena severa) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tufted Antshrike (Mackenziaena severa) is a member of the Thamnophilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 51.8 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 Mackenziaena
- Species severa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 51.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tufted Antshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Tufted Antshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tufted Antshrike (Mackenziaena severa) is a species of bird in the Thamnophilidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 51.8 g, with a wing length of about 9.1 cm and a tail of around 11.6 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 955,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tufted Antshrike?
The Tufted Antshrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.8 g.
Where does the Tufted Antshrike live?
The Tufted Antshrike is found across South America with a range covering SA s Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Tufted Antshrike belong to?
The Tufted Antshrike (Mackenziaena severa) belongs to the Thamnophilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tufted Antshrike eat?
The Tufted Antshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tufted Antshrike migrate?
The Tufted Antshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tufted 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 Tufted Antshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Tufted Antshrike — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tufted Antshrike's range?
The Tufted Antshrike has a mapped global range of about 955,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.