Tyrannine Woodcreeper
Dendrocincla tyrannina
Fairly large woodcreeper found in the subtropical zone in the Andes from Colombia to Peru. Very plain warm brown with few markings, save for some vague paler streaking on the head and throat. Rather long, straight bill. All other woodcreepers found at similar elevations have much more streaking. Compare with Plain-brown, which is found at lower elevations. Uncommon in montane forest, usually following a mixed-species flock.
Identification
The tyrannine woodcreeper is rather larger and heavier than most others of its genus. It is 23 to 26.5 cm (9.1 to 10 in) long and weighs 40 to 64 g (1.4 to 2.3 oz). The sexes have the same plumage, though males average heavier than females. The nominate subspecies mostly warm brown, with a paler throat, faint buff streaks on its forecrown and behind the eye, and a rufescent cast to the wings and tail. Subspecies D. t. hellmayri is a more olive-brown than the nominate, and has less rufescent wings and tail. Both subspecies have a brown to bluish gray iris and gray to blackish legs and feet. Their large bill has a brownish gray to black maxilla and a brownish to bluish gray mandible.
Taxonomy
The tyrannine woodcreeper has two subspecies, the nominate D. t. tyrannina (Lafresnaye, 1851) and D. t. hellmayri (Cory, 1913).
- Scientific name
- Dendrocincla tyrannina
- Authority
- (Lafresnaye, 1851)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Dendrocincla
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of the tyrannine woodcreeper is found in Colombia's Western and Central Andes and south on both slopes of the Andes through Ecuador and Peru and slightly into Bolivia. D. t. hellmayri is found on the eastern slope of Colombia's Eastern Andes and in adjacent western Venezuela. The species inhabits humid temperate, subtropical, and tropical montane forest. It favors the interior of primary forest though it also occurs at the edges and in mature secondary forest. It only rarely occurs in clearings. In elevation it ranges between 1,800 and 2,300 m (5,900 and 7,500 ft) in Venezuela. In Colombia it mostly ranges between 1,500 and 3,000 m (4,900 and 9,800 ft) but occurs as low as 720 m (2,400 ft) in the southwest of the country. In Ecuador it ranges between 1,400 and 3,100 m (4,600 and 10,200 ft) but is most common between 1,800 and 2,700 m (5,900 and 8,900 ft). In central Peru it has been documented between 1,310 and 2,225 m (4,300 and 7,300 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Campocolinus coqui
Small, beautifully-patterned francolin. Males have a rufous head, while females have an elaborately-striped head, and both sexes show dark barring on the belly. Found on the ground in areas with thick grass, ranging from pure grassland to lush woodland. A generally shy and retiring species that sometimes sits out boldly when calling. Gives two distinctive calls: a repeated “co-qui” and a short series of cackling notes. Smaller than most other francolins, and bigger than quail and buttonquail. Its plumage pattern is distinctive when seen well.
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