Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper
Dendrexetastes rufigula
Large plain brown woodcreeper of Amazonian lowlands. Reddish brown overall with olive brown underparts, a heavy gray bill, and fine white breast streaking on some individuals. Typically found in young forest and forest edge, often around rivers and lakes. Most other woodcreepers have much more prominent streaking. Compared to similar Plain-brown and White-chinned Woodcreepers, this species has a more even brown face without noticeable facial markings and a heavier, lighter gray bill. Listen for its song, an explosive, decelerating rattle punctuated with a low churr at the end.
Identification
The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper is one of the larger woodcreepers, with a heavy body, short wings, and a short, stout, bill with a slightly hooked tip. It is 22.5 to 27 cm (8.9 to 11 in) long. Males weigh 64 to 74 g (2.3 to 2.6 oz) and females 66 to 77 g (2.3 to 2.7 oz). The sexes are alike. The nominate subspecies D. r. rufigula has mostly medium brown upperparts with a paler crown and rufous-chestnut wings, rump, and tail. A few whitish streaks span the nape and upper back. It is generally paler and more cinnamon-brown below. Its throat is a brightish rusty buff, its breast has wide black-edged whitish streaks that extend to the sides of the neck, and sometimes weak darker bars on the lower belly and undertail coverts. Its iris is red to light brown, its bill horn-gray, bluish horn, or brownish to dull greenish yellow, and its legs and feet slate gray, greenish gray, bluish black, or brown.<p>Subspecies D. r. devillei has a weaker pattern than the nominate, with much fainter streaks on the breast, none on the neck, and no bars on the belly. D. r. paraensis is very like the nominate, but with a bold white supercilium and rounder streaks on the breast and neck. D. r. moniliger is duller and less rufescent than the other subspecies, but has bolder streaking on the breast and neck.
Taxonomy
The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper is the only member of genus Dendrexetastes. Four subspecies are recognized:<p>Subspecies D. r. devillei has been proposed as a separate species but differs little from the others in voice.<p>The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper is genetically most closely related to the long-billed woodcreeper (Nasica longirostris).
- Scientific name
- Dendrexetastes rufigula
- Authority
- (Lesson, RP, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Dendrocolaptidae
- Genus
- Dendrexetastes
Range and habitat
The subspecies of the cinnamon-throated woodcreeper are found thus:<p>The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper mostly inhabits humid forest, both terra firme and várzea. In the Guianas it typically occurs in forest on sand ridges and savanna. It favors palm forest, the edges of evergreen forest, and mid- to late-age secondary forest rather than the interior of primary forest; it also frequently occurs on river islands. In elevation it mostly occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft) but is occasionally found as high as 950 m (3,100 ft) in the Andean foothills at the western edge of its range.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper is a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper forages alone or in mixed-species feeding flocks about equally, but less frequently in pairs. It hitches along trunks and branches from the forest's mid-level to the canopy and also creeps and probes among living and dead leaf clusters and epiphytes. Its diet is not known in detail but appears to be mainly arthropods with some fruit.<p>The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper's breeding season is not well known; in the Guianas it breeds in the dry season. It nests in a tree cavity, either natural or excavated by a woodpecker, and also sometimes in thatched roofs. The clutch is two or three eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.<p>The cinnamon-throated woodcreeper sings mostly at dawn and dusk. One author describes the song as "a fast series of loud rattled notes, ascending at first and descending and trailing off at the end". It "always ends with a distinctive lower-pitched 'tchew' or 'trreew' note". Another describes it as a "very high loud series of ringing notes, sounding almost like a trill."
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Black-headed Parrot
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Medium-sized, stocky parrot that is distinctive even under poor lighting conditions; note black cap and contrasting white-and-yellow pattern on face, breast, and belly. Common in a variety of forest types, especially those on sandy soils. Usually seen in groups of 4-5 or more. Groups forage quietly on fruit and flowers in forest canopy, flushing noisily with distinctive whirring wingbeats that are audible at some distance. Flight call is a penetrating screech, somewhat similar to Red-fan Parrot but higher-pitched and less variable.
Red-throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis
This eastern counterpart of the Black-throated Thrush also breeds in montane areas and winters in lower-elevation areas on average. Males gray above and white below, with a brick-red throat and supercilium. Female paler, with more streaking on the breast and light suffusion of red on the face. Streaky and drab young birds can be difficult to distinguish from Black-throated; chestnut outer tail feathers and orange suffusion to the throat area indicate Red-throated. In areas of overlap, beware hybrids that may show features of both species. Pleasant song is simpler than that of Black-throated, and is composed of fluty whistles and trills. Calls include typical “chekchekchek” and high, thin “tseee.”
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