---
title: "Variable Antshrike"
description: "Thamnophilus caerulescens — Birds. The variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the \"typical antbirds\"."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/variable-antshrike
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Variable Antshrike

> Thamnophilus caerulescens — Birds. The variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds".

- Scientific name: *Thamnophilus caerulescens*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest)
- iNaturalist observations: 2412
- Wikidata: [Q1193392](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1193392)
- iNaturalist taxon: [15757](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/15757)

## Names

- en: Variable Antshrike
- de: Grauscheitelwollrücken
- es: Choca corona negruzca
- fr: Batara bleuâtre
- nl: Grijskapmierklauwier
- pt: Choca-da-mata
- pl: Chronka zmienna

## Countries with the most observations

BR (1226), AR (828), UY (80), PE (56), BO (25), PY (15)

## Summary

The variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_antshrike

## Photo

![Variable Antshrike](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/variable-antshrike/medium.jpg)

Photo: Paulo Mascaretti · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/123076873

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/variable-antshrike?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).