Xingu Scythebill
Campylorhamphus multostriatus
A brown, tree-climbing bird with a strongly curved bill. Appears small-headed; plumage is mostly rufous-brown with buffy streaking on head and neck. Found in tall rainforest, where it is uncommon and locally distributed; often occurs in areas with extensive bamboo thickets. Generally shy and rather difficult to observe. Forages at middle and upper levels, using extraordinary bill to probe into deep bark crevices, bromeliads, and broken bamboo stems. Regularly follows mixed-species flocks. Song is a descending and accelerating series of strident whistles. Curved bill should immediately distinguish this species from other woodcreepers in range. Restricted to a small area of eastern Amazonia, south of the Amazon River, between the Xingu and Tocantins Rivers.
Identification
The Xingu scythebill is 22.5 to 25 cm (8.9 to 9.8 in) long and weighs about 38 g (1.3 oz). It is a slim, medium-sized woodcreeper with a very long, slim, dramatically decurved bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a blackish head. Their back and wing coverts are dark rufous-brown with wide lighter streaks that have black edges. Their rump and tail are dark chestnut. Their throat is plain whitish. Their underparts are brown with wide buffy streaks that have indistinct darker borders on the breast that don't continue onto the belly. Their iris is dark brown to chestnut and their bill dark brown to reddish with a paler mandible.
Taxonomy
The Xingu scythebill was long considered conspecific with the curve-billed scythebill (C. procurvoides), which at the time also included what is now the Tapajos scythebill (C. probatus). By the early 2010s BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) had separated it as this species. In July 2023 the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) adopted the split and in October 2023 the Clements taxonomy followed suit.<p>The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society retains this taxon within the curve-billed scythebill.<p>The Xingu scythebill is monotypic: No subspecies are recognized.
- Scientific name
- Campylorhamphus multostriatus
- Authority
- (Snethlage, E, 1907)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Campylorhamphus
Range and habitat
The Xingu scythebill is found in eastern Amazonian Brazil south of the Amazon between the Xingu and Tocantins rivers and south into Mato Grosso state. The species inhabits humid evergreen forest. It greatly favors terra firme but occasionally occurs in floodplain and seasonally flooded forest. It often occurs in bamboo thickets or vine-rich areas. In all forest types the species favors the interior though it does visit the forest edges. In elevation it mostly occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft) but locally reaches 800 m (2,600 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Philippine Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis holospilus
A fairly large, common raptor of forest and more open wooded areas from the lowlands to the lower mountains. Dark brown with white speckles on the crown and upperparts, rufous-brown below with large white spots. Note the gray cheek and yellow eye. Differs from other raptors in its range by its bare yellow skin between the bill and eye, and in flight by its dark terminal band to the wings and tail. Often gives a whistled “weeeeeuuuu weu weu” in flight, or sometimes just a single note.
Puerto Rican Euphonia
Chlorophonia sclateri
Endemic to Puerto Rico. A brilliantly colored, tiny, and active species of dense woodlands where it feeds at middle to upper levels, primarily on mistletoe berries. Sometimes joins mixed flocks. Easy to miss despite bright colors and flitting movements. Note small size, short tail, and small (though rather thick) bill. Male has a blue helmet, yellow underparts (including the throat), and a dark mask. Female is olive-green overall; note distinctive blue helmet and small yellowish forehead patch. Calls include a lively “beep” given singly or in series, a rapid “whip-ip,” a rough “djip,” and a plaintive “wheee.” Song is a rapid jumble of tinkling, squeaky, and whistled notes.
Crissal Thrasher
Toxostoma crissale
Dark grayish thrasher with distinctive rufous undertail coverts. Bill long and strongly curved. Tail long and dark. Obvious dark line separating white mustache and white throat. Yellow eye. Secretive and uncommon, although perches conspicuously when singing. Found in brushy deserts. With a good view, easily distinguished from more common Curve-billed Thrasher by darker gray color and rufous undertail coverts. Listen for jumbled, rambling song.
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