The Great Antshrike is a large antbird widespread in scrub and second growth from Mexico south to northern Argentina. Its loud song has a pattern resembling a bouncing ball coming to rest, and is commonly heard in appropriate habitat. Seeing birds as they skulk through dense, low growth can be difficult. When glimpsed, this bird is distinctive with its large size, heavy build, bushy crest, red eyes, and bicolored plumage. Males are black above and white below, while in females the black is replaced by rich rufous-brown. This species feeds largely on arthropods, but occasionally on molluscs or small vertebrates.