Order: PASSERINE

Family: THAMNOPHILIDAE

Populations of this species are found mainly in Colombia and a small portion of northwestern Venezuela. Its name Thamnophilus comes from the Greek roots thamnos = bush and philos = lover of. The epithet multistriatus comes from the Latin roots multi = much and striatus = striated.

Description

It measures 15 to 16.5 cm and weighs 21 to 23 g. It is a bird with a crest and a yellow iris. The male is completely barred in black and white, except in the region that extends from the nape to the throat, where it is striated. The female has rufous crown, upperparts, wings and tail with the crown slightly darker and separated from the back by a narrow band of black and white or pale reddish brown striations. It has black and white striations on the sides of the head and throat, bars of the same color on the lower parts, and a reddish-brown tint on the flanks. The subadult male has a yellowish brown tint.

Similar species

The male is very similar to the male of the Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) which has a black crown with the base of the feathers white, not barred with black and white. The female is distinguished from the Lined Antshrike (Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus) because its white bars on the underparts are proportionally wider with faint rufous washing.

Regional Differences

Four subspecies are recognized: T. m. brachyurus, T. m. selvae, T. m. multistriatus and T. m. oecotonophilus. The brachyurus race is found in the western Andes (except in the headwaters of the San Juan river), on the western slope of the Central Cordillera, and differs from the nominal race by its shorter tail and white bars with wider lower parts. The selvae race is found in the headwaters of the San Juan River and has black bars with wider lower parts. The nominal subspecies is found on the eastern slope of the central Andes and on the western slope of the Eastern Cordillera. The oecotonophilus race is found on the western slopes of the eastern Andes and is similar to the selvae race but with a noticeably longer tail.

Distribution

This species is found in Colombia and in the extreme northwest of Venezuela. In Colombia it is distributed from 900 to 2,200 m above sea level (on the Pacific slope up to 400 m) in the Western mountain range and on the western slope of the Central mountain range in the departments of Antioquia, Quindío, Valle del Cauca and Cauca. On the eastern slopes of the Central Andes in eastern Antioquia, eastern Caldas, eastern Tolima, Huila and eastern Nariño. In the Eastern mountain range in its western slope in Cundinamarca and Santander and in its eastern slope in Norte de Santander and Boyacá. Also in the Serranía del Perijá.

Habitat

It lives in dry to humid forests where it uses clearings and weedy edges. It also uses cultivated areas, gardens and parks with scattered bushes and trees.

Feeding

Their diet is presumed to be primarily arthropods. Seeds of Punica granatum (Lythraceae) have also been recorded in its stomach contents.

Reproduction

In Colombia, individuals in reproductive condition have been registered from May to June in Antioquia and east of Caldas. Also males in reproductive condition from March to May near Cali. Their eggs are white, densely stained and streaked with reddish brown. Other details of their reproductive biology are unknown.

Behavior

Forages singly or in pairs from the lower layer of vegetation to the sub-canopy. It is most easily detected by its loud and fast singing.

Taxonomy

The differences between their races could be due to clinal variation. Studies are required to clarify the nature of the differences between different populations

Vocalization / Song

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