Black-hooded Antshrike (Thamnophilus bridgesi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Thamnophilus ("bush loving") bridgesi (collector of holotype)

 

Male Black-hooded Antshrike (Thamnophilus bridgesi) at Carara National Park, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 26-27g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Found only on the Pacific Slope of Costa Rica and Panama, they are insectivores which generally keeps fairly low to the ground, snatching invertibrates where it can find them. It will use tactics such as joining mixed species feeding flocks or even following army ant swarms to pick off prey that flees it from above.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Thamnophilus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Batará Negruzco

Widespread on the Pacific Slope.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Carara National Park

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Dot-winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis)

OTHER NAMES: Velvety Antwren
Latin Etymology: Microrhopias ("small bush dweller") quixensis ("of Quijo", an area in Peru/Ecuador)

Dot-winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis) at Carara National Parl, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Microrhopias quixensis virgatus
Weight: 7.5-11.5g  /  Length: 10-12.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread secies of Antbird found in Central America and the Amazon basin. While the name suggests greater specificity, they feed on arthropods in general, foraging in small family groups, or, when they enter its territory, joining mixed species flocks.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Microrhopias
SUBSPECIES: M. q. boucardi, M. q. virgatus, M. q. consobrina, M. q. quixensis, M. q. intercedens, M. q. nigriventris, M. q. albicauda, M. q. microstictus, M. q. bicolor, M. q. emiliae
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Hormiguerito del Quijos

Found in Caribean Lowlands and Central Pacific Lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Carara National Park

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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