Bird Guide

Black-crested Antshrike vs Glossy Antshrike

Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis)

Black-crested Antshrike

Sakesphorus canadensis

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The black-crested antshrike is 14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 20 to 28 g (0.71 to 0.99 oz). This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, but both sexes have a shaggy crest. Adult males of the nominate subspecies S. c. canadensis have a black head, throat, and center of their breast. They have a white band on their nape. Their upperparts are cinnamon-brown. Their wings and tail are black with white edges to the feathers and white spots at the tips of the outer tail feathers. The sides of their breast and their belly are whitish gray and their flanks and crissum a darker gray. Voice: The primary song of most black-crested anshrike subspecies is "a series of c. 10–15 notes, initially flat with complaining quality, then rising in pitch while accelerating rapidly". That of S. c. pulchellus is similar "but overall slower-paced and lower-pitched, while final 2–3 snarling notes drop further in pitch". Calls apparently do not vary across the species' range.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jquental · CC BY 2.0
Glossy Antshrike (Sakesphorus luctuosus)

Glossy Antshrike

Sakesphorus luctuosus

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The glossy antshrike is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long and weighs 27 to 33 g (0.95 to 1.2 oz). This species exhibits minor sexual dimorphism, and both sexes have a shaggy crest. Adult males are almost entirely black. Their lower back, rump, lower belly, and crissum are dark gray. Some white is mostly concealed under their scapulars and the tips of their tail feathers are white. The amount of white varies somewhat across the species' range. Adult females are almost like males but with a deep chestnut-brown forehead and crest. Voice: The glossy antshrike's song is a "short, accelerating series of 10-15 high, nasal 'ah' notes". It also makes "a slowly repeated series of downslurred whistles", "soft and raspy 'caw' notes". a "long downslurred whistle", and a "shorter downslurred whistle that immediately becomes a short rattle".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-crested Antshrike and Glossy Antshrike.