Blackish Antbird

SCI Name:  Cercomacroides nigrescens
Protonym:  Percnostola nigrescens Mus.Hein. 2 p.10
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Thamnophilidae / Cercomacroides
Taxonomy Code:  blaant4
Type Locality:  Cayenne.
Author:  Cabanis & Heine
Publish Year:  1860
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

CERCOMACROIDES
(Thamnophilidae; Ϯ Dusky Antbird C. tyrannina) Genus Cercomacra P. Sclater, 1858, antbird; Gr. -οιδης -oidēs  resembling; "Because the group of species referred to as the 'tyrannina' clade does not have an available name, we erect a new genus that recognizes the monophyly and distinct nature of this group.   CERCOMACROIDES J. G. TELLO & M. A. RAPOSO, GEN. NOV.  Type species: Cercomacroides tyrannina (Sclater, 1855), comb. nov., Dusky Antbird (= Cercomacra tyrannina [Sclater], 1855)  ...  Cercomacroides can be distinguished from Cercomacra by the lack of conspicuous white tips on the rectrices of both sexes; by the predominantly warm buff-brown or orange buff plumage in females; by the whistling loudsongs and non-synchronized vocal duets; and by building deep pouch-shaped nests with oblique entrances.  Etymology: The Latin suffix -oides, taken from ancient Greek 'eidos' means 'having the likeness of'. Our choice of the name Cercomacroides is an allusion to the great shape and plumage similarity among the species of Cercomacroides and those of the genus Cercomacra, probably as a result of convergence" (Tello et al. 2014); "Cercomacroides Tello and Raposo in Tello, Raposo, Bates, Bravo, Cadena, and Maldonado-Coelho, 2014, Zool. Journal Linnean Soc., 170 (3), p. 555.  Type, by original designation, Cercomacra tyrannina P. Sclater, 1855." (JAJ 2020).

nigrescens
L. nigrescens, nigrescentis  blackish  < nigrescere  to become black  < niger  black.

SUBSPECIES

Blackish Antbird (nigrescens)
SCI Name: Cercomacroides nigrescens nigrescens
nigrescens
L. nigrescens, nigrescentis  blackish  < nigrescere  to become black  < niger  black.

Blackish Antbird (aequatorialis)
SCI Name: Cercomacroides nigrescens aequatorialis
aequatoriale / aequatorialis
Late L. aequatorialis  equatorial  < aequator  equator  < L. aequare  to make equal  < aequus  equal. Frequently given to species with a distribution in the equatorial latitudes of Africa (e.g. subsp. Jynx ruficollis, Sheppardia), but more commonly applied to birds from Ecuador (Spanish ecuador  equator) (e.g. Momotus, Thamnistes, Xiphorhynchus).
● Erroneous TL. Guayaquil (= Panama City) (subsp. Dendroica petechia).
● Erroneous TL. Guayaquil (= interior of Ecuador) (subsp. Falco sparverius).
● Erroneous TL. Ecuador (= Bahia, Brazil) (syn. Heliothryx aurita auriculata).
● Erroneous TL. Bogotá (= San Lucas, Ecuador) (subsp. Rallus limicola).

Blackish Antbird (notata)
SCI Name: Cercomacroides nigrescens notata
notata / notatum / notatus
L. notatus  spotted, marked, marked out  < notare  to mark  < nota  mark  < noscere  to know.
● ex “Pato ipecutirí” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 437 (syn. Amazonetta brasiliensis).
● ex “Petite Perruche de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 456, fig. 2, and “Sosové” of de Buffon 7170-1783 (syn. Brotogeris chrysoptera).
● ex “Pic Tigré” of Levaillant 1808 (Campethera).
● ex “Grimpereau noir de Madagascar” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Cinnyris).
● ex “Canard brun” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 1007 (syn. Melanitta fusca).
● ex “Traquet à Cul Roux” of Levaillant 1806, pl. 188, fig. 2 (syn. Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris).
● ex “Ortolan de passage” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 511, fig. 2 (syn. Plectrophenax nivalis).

Blackish Antbird (approximans)
SCI Name: Cercomacroides nigrescens approximans
approximans
L. approximans, approximantis  nearing, approaching  < approximare  to draw near to.
● "This species bears a great resemblance to both the last [Astur radiatus, Astur fasciatus] in its colours and the general distribution of them; and we have had some doubt as to our bird being the young of one of them."(Vigors & Horsfield 1827) (syn. Accipiter fasciatus).
● "Similar to Celeus elegans elegans from Cayenne, but differs in having general coloration somewhat brighter; crown and rump averaging paler (more whitish); under wing coverts almost white (faintly buffy); size smaller." (Cory 1919) (subsp. Celeus elegans).
● "C. tyranninae Sclater simillima sed rostro breviore et alis longioribus, femina etiam fronte et capitis lateribus ferrugineis differt." (von Pelzeln 1869) (subsp. Cercomacra nigrescens).
● "General form, like C. cyaneus, but larger  ...  This hawk's manners, its long wings and tail, its white rump, and its unceasing industry in coursing, will at once remind an American of the marsh hawk, or the Englishman of the harrier." (Peale 1848) (Circus).
● "Gleicht dem O. capensis vollständig und ist nur durch auffallend geringere Grösse verschieden und stimmt hierin mit O. xanthomelas (Euplectes xanthomelas Rüpp.) überein." (Cabanis 1853) (subsp. Euplectes capensis).
● "Similar to L. o. ochroptera of southern and eastern Brazil, but differs chiefly in its much more pale brown (almost vinaceous brown and not at all olive) back, rump, and upper tail coverts.  Size about that of females of L. o. ochroptera." (Cory 1917) (subsp. Leptotila verreauxi).
● "Cabanis scheint von der Gleichartigkeit unseres M. hypopyrrhus mit olivaceus noch nicht völlig überzeugt und möchte selbst, wenn dies der Fall wäre, einer grössere westliche und kleinere östliche Abart (A. approximans, Cab. [1869]) annehmen, ohne indess Beweise zur Begründung dieser Ansicht beizubringen." (Finsch & Hartlaub 1870) (subsp. Malaconotus blanchoti).
● "Most nearly allied to P. poliosoma, Sharpe, from British New Guinea (Aroa and Mambare Rivers), of which it is the western representative; but the top of the head and ear-coverts are very dark slate-grey like the rest of the upperparts, while in P. poliosoma the crown and ear-coverts are washed with brown; also the fore-neck and chest are uniform dark grey like the rest of the underparts, while in P. poliosoma they are washed with earthy-brown immediately below the white throat." (Ogilvie-Grant 1911) (subsp. Pachycephalopsis poliosoma).
● "Similar to V. crassirostris, Bryant, but rather paler above, the yellow supraloral streak much less distinct; the yellowish postocular spot obsolete, and tail more decidedly rounded or graduated.  ...  It is not a little remarkable that this species, like the Certhiola from the same locality, should have its nearest ally in a Bahaman species (V. crassirostris, Bryant).  The resemblance to the latter is indeed so close that I hesitated to separate it" (Ridgway 1884) (subsp. Vireo pallens).

Blackish Antbird (ochrogyna)
SCI Name: Cercomacroides nigrescens ochrogyna
ochrogyna / ochrogyne
Gr. ωχρος ōkhros  pale-yellow; ωχρα ōkhra  yellow-ochre; γυνη gunē, γυναικος gunaikos  wife, female.