Red-billed Scythebill
Campylorhamphus trochilirostris
Look for the notably long, extremely decurved bill. Otherwise a typical woodcreeper, mostly warm brown with buffy streaks on the head and breast. Easy to identify when the only scythebill in range, but does overlap with other scythebill species. Especially beware of Curve-billed Scythebill, which typically has less streaking on the back (but streaking is variable across range, hence some might be best left unidentified). Red-billed’s red bill is usually obvious enough to distinguish from Brown-billed Scythebill, but can be difficult to judge in certain conditions. Note Red-billed is often found in drier forest than Brown-billed. Hitches up tree trunks much like a woodpecker. Most often seen following mixed-species flocks in the forest, sometimes in adjacent second growth. Typically below 1,000 m, but locally higher.
Identification
The red-billed scythebill is 22 to 28 cm (8.7 to 11 in) long and weighs 30 to 55 g (1.1 to 1.9 oz). It is a slim, medium-sized woodcreeper with a very long, slim, dramatically decurved bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies C. t. trochilirostris have a thinly streaked face and neck with a weak supercilium. Their crown, nape, and back are reddish olive-brown, with the back being somewhat lighter. Their crown has longish whitish to ochraceous spots with narrow blackish edges; the spots narrow on the nape and become thin streaks on the upper back. Their rump is cinnamon-rufous that contrasts little with the back, their flight feathers are rufous-chestnut, and their tail is a slightly darker rufous-chestnut. Their wing coverts have wide reddish olive-brown edges and the tips of the primaries are dusky. Their throat and chin are white, the latter with thin brownish streaks. Their underparts are a slightly lighter brown than the back; their breast has buff streaks that narrow on the belly but don't continue onto the undertail coverts. Their underwing coverts are light cinnamon to ochraceous. Their iris is dark brown to hazel, their bill bright red or reddish brown (often with a dusky tip and base), and their legs and feet grayish olive to dull pea-green. Juveniles are less richly colored than adults, with less well defined and more ochraceous streaks, and a darker and much shorter bill.<p>The other subspecies of the red-billed scythebill differ from the nominate and each other thus:
Taxonomy
The red-billed scythebill has these 12 subspecies:<p>The red-billed scythebill and black-billed scythebill (C. falcularius) have at times been considered conspecific and also as sister species, but genetic data indicate neither is true. The red-billed and curve-billed scythebill (C. procurvoides) have also been suggested as sister species. Some of the subspecies are difficult to distinguish from each other. In addition, a small number of additional subspecies have been suggested to be split from existing ones.
- Scientific name
- Campylorhamphus trochilirostris
- Authority
- (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1820)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Campylorhamphus
Range and habitat
The subspecies of the red-billed scythebill are found thus:<p>The red-billed scythebill inhabits a wide variety of wooded landscapes, most of which are open to semi-open. These include Gran Chaco woodland, gallery forest, cerrado, caatinga, forest clusters in savannah, secondary forest, and some scrublands. In the Amazon Basin it favors seasonally flooded várzea and igapó forest and riverside canebrakes. In elevation it mostly occurs below about 1,200 m (3,900 ft) but reaches 1,900 m (6,200 ft) in Ecuador and 2,100 m (6,900 ft) in Venezuela.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The red-billed scythebill is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The red-billed scythebill's diet is chiefly arthropods, especially soft-bodied ones like spiders, and also includes small vertebrates. It usually forages singly, though sometimes in pairs, and often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. It hitches up and along trunks and branches, mostly from the upper level of the understory to the subcanopy but also sometimes higher and lower. It typically takes its prey by probing crevices and holes in bark, bamboo, rotting wood, moss clumps, bromeliads, and epiphytes.<p>The red-billed scythebill's breeding seasons vary widely across its very large range. For instance, it nests between May and July in northern Venezuela and September to November in southern Brazil. It nests in a cavity in a tree or stump which it lines with leaves and other plant matter. The clutch size is one to three eggs though usually two; the incubation period and time to fledging are not known. Evidence suggests that both parents contribute to caring for the brood.<p>Like its breeding seasons, the red-billed scythebill's songs vary widely throughout its range. One in Venezuela is "a rapid descending whinny...'we’he’he’he’he’he’he’e’e’e’e’e' ". In western Ecuador and Peru it is "a descending and gradually slowing series of fewer whistled notes, 'tuwee-tuwee-toowa-tew-tew' ". In northeastern Brazil the song is "a short series of fluted notes 'wuut wuut wit-wit-triffit' " that ascends at the end. The species also makes a variety of calls.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Long-tailed Rosefinch
Carpodacus sibiricus
Large, plump finch of the boreal forest. Adult males are pink overall with two white wingbars and pale gray highlights. Immature males and females are not so bright but still subtly pretty; gray body with olive, yellow, or burnt-orange head and rump. Stubby bill with rounded edges. Song consists of rich, mellow warbles; listen for musical flight calls. Breeds in open coniferous forests. Winters in a variety of wooded habitats, especially around fruiting trees including crabapple and mountain ash. Often extremely tame, allowing close approach.
Red-capped Manakin
Ceratopipra mentalis
Chunky little bird of middle levels and understory in humid tropical forest of lowlands. Away from display areas, usually found in ones and twos perched quietly or feeding at fruiting trees and bushes from understory to canopy. Often sits still for long periods and easily overlooked. Male unmistakable: flame-red head glows in shady forest. Female notably drab, dull greenish with dull pinkish bill, dark legs, best identified by shape and behavior.
Ryukyu Robin
Larvivora komadori
Rather tame songbird of shady subtropical broadleaf forests. Breeds in the northern Ryukyu Islands, with some migrating to the southern Ryukyu Islands. Bright rufous-orange above, whitish below, with a black throat, breast, and flanks in the male. Pumps the tail and flutters wings regularly, much like other robins. Most readily seen on hiking trails beside streams during the earlier hours of the day. Gives high-pitched calls and beautiful whistled songs.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.