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Definition of antshrike

antshrike

/ˈænt.ʃɹaɪk/
ant · shrike
Plural:antshrikes
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antshrike Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of various Neotropical passerine birds of the family Thamnophilidae, native to Central and South America, characterized by a heavy, sharply hooked bill and a habit of following army ant swarms to prey on the insects they flush out.

Example

"During our birdwatching tour in Costa Rica, we were thrilled to spot a barred antshrike calling from the dense thicket."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for antshrike

• Nearby Words

antlike
antonym
antpitta
antshrike
antsiness
antsy
antthrush

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of 'ant' and 'shrike', referring to the bird's habit of foraging near army ant swarms and its physical resemblance to a shrike, particularly its sharply hooked bill.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Antshrike. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/antshrike
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