Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation due to logging, mining and conversion to livestock-farming and crop plantations is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Low-pitched, throaty scold of 2-4 rapid-burst syllables, 'JEER-deer-dur' or 'JEER-deer-dur-dr', repeated at a rate of c.1 per second. Also short, low, uninflected whistled 'peeur'. Possible song described as 'du-du-du-duAYY'.
Bicolored Antvireo (Dysithamnus occidentalis) [XC354296]
by Ross Gallardy from PNN Tatam\u00e1 - Cerro Montezuma, Colombia (call, song)
Bicolored Antvireo (Dysithamnus occidentalis) [XC273873]
by Peter Boesman from PN Tatam\u00e1, Montezuma trail near Pueblo Rico , Risaralda, Colombia (song)
Subspecies
Relationships of genus not clearly established. Preliminary molecular evidence suggests affiliation with Thamnophilus, and morphological characteristics have connected it with Thamnomanes. Present species has been variously allocated to both of those genera, but bulk of vocal, morphological and ecological evidence supports its inclusion in current genus. Racial identity of birds on Pacific slope in northern Ecuador uncertain and tentatively placed in nominate, but possibly belong to subspecies punctitectus.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
occidentalis (Chapman, 1923) - Pacific Andean slope of southern Colombia (Valle, Cauca) and extreme northern Ecuador (Carchi).
Similar Species
Male Uniform Antshrike (Thamnophilus unicolor) lacks white in wing. Female Uniform Antshrike (Thamnophilus unicolor) has grey face and ochraceous-brown underparts.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet