Tooth-billed Wren
Odontorchilus cinereus
Slender, inconspicuous wren with a long tail, recalling a gnatcatcher. Has rather dull plumage: gray above, very pale grayish below, with a brownish crown. Note the dark bars on the tail. Forages high in the canopy of humid forests and almost invariably accompanies mixed-species flocks. Sings a loud series of “tsee” notes repeated continually.
Identification
The tooth-billed wren is 12 cm (4.7 in) long; one male weighed 11 g (0.39 oz). Adults have a grayish cinnamon crown, a grayish brown face, and a medium gray back. their throat and breast are buffy gray, the belly pale buff, and the flanks grayish white. The juvenile looks essentially the same.
Taxonomy
The tooth-billed wren shares its genus with one other species, the grey-mantled wren (Odontorchilus branickii). Some authors have suggested that they are conspecific or that they form a superspecies. The tooth-billed wren is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Odontorchilus cinereus
- Authority
- (Pelzeln, 1868)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Odontorchilus
Range and habitat
The tooth-billed wren is found mostly in Brazil but its range extends slightly into Bolivia's Santa Cruz Department. It is found south of the Amazon River between the Madeira River on the west and the Xingú River on the east. It inhabits tall humid lowland forest at elevations up to 600 m (2,000 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The tooth-billed wren's diet is not known in detail, but the species is insectivorous. It forages in the canopy, 15 to 30 m (49 to 98 ft) above ground, exploring and probing the foliage along branches and in vine tangles. It usually is part of a mixed-species foraging flock.<p>The tooth-billed wren's breeding season appears to span from June to September based on dates when active nests, dependent juveniles, and physiological evidence have been observed. It nests in a cavity in a limb or trunk high above the ground. The clutch size is believed to be two.<p>The tooth-billed wren's typical song is "a short, simple trill" [1]; both sexes sing it.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-chinned Thrush
Turdus aurantius
A dark plumaged ground feeder that prefers wooded areas but also occurs in gardens and plantations. Its most distinctive features are its bright orange bill and legs. The namesake white chin is inconspicuous. Also note the white slash, which is usually visible, on the upper wing. Superficially similar to the shier White-eyed Thrush, which has a white eye plus a dark bill and legs. Most common call is a slightly shrill, up-slurred “p’weet,” sometimes given as a longer “p’ooo-weeet.” Song is a series of varied sweet notes given singly or as couplets.
Grass Wren
Cistothorus platensis
Tiny, bubbly, buffy-colored wren of dense grassy or shrubby habitats. Fairly common but locally distributed from central Mexico to the southernmost tip of South America; surely comprises multiple species. Occurs from open grasslands and marshes at sea level up to paramo in the high Andes. Generally secretive, but perches up when singing. Generally pale brownish with complex patterning on upperparts; compare with much plainer House Wren. Variable voice, usually including harsh chips, buzzes, and trills.
Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant
Myiornis atricapillus
Tiny short-tailed flycatcher, one of the smallest songbirds in the world. Similar shape and size to a golf ball. Blackish cap, greenish back, and dirty white underparts. Look for white spectacles. Can be quite difficult to spot even when calling nearby. Sometimes high in the canopy but can also be seen quite low. Prefers forest edges and second growth.
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