Cocha Antshrike

The cocha antshrike (Thamnophilus praecox) is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. == Taxonomy and systematics == The cocha antshrike is monotypic. It and the black antshrike (T. nigriceps) are sister species. == Description == The cocha antshrike is about 16 cm (6.3 in) long. Members of genus Thamnophilus are largish members of the antbird family; all have stout bills with a hook like those of true shrikes. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. Adult males are entirely black except that their underwing coverts are white, a feature that is seldom visible in the field. Adult females have a black head, throat, and upper breast. Some individuals have faint white streaks on their throat. The rest of their body, their wings, and their tail are cinnamon-rufous; their underparts are slightly paler than their back. == Distribution and habitat == The cocha antshrike was long thought to be endemic to northeastern Ecuador, where it occurs locally along the Rio Napo and its tributaries. The International Ornithological Committee lists it that way. However, by 2021 the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC)…