Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

The Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Glyphorynchus spirurus, is a diminutive member of the ovenbird family Furnariidae, notable for its short, upturned, wedge-shaped bill reminiscent of the Xenops genus. This bird is the smallest of the woodcreepers, measuring a modest 13 to 16 cm in length and weighing between 10.5 to 21 grams. Both sexes share a similar plumage.

Identification Tips

The Wedge-billed Woodcreeper can be identified by its grayish forehead, russet-brown crown and nape, and light buff lores. It sports a thin buff to buff-white supercilium and a buff eyering, with sooty-brown auriculars and a brown malar stripe. The upperparts are a rich brown, transitioning to cinnamon-rufous on the lower back and tail. The wing feathers are dark brown with buff to buff-white stripes underneath, visible in flight. The underparts are olive-brown to russet, with fulvous spots on the upper breast and streaks on the lower breast. The bird's iris ranges from dark brown to amber, and its legs and feet vary from pinkish gray to brownish black.

Habitat

This species thrives in tropical evergreen forests, including rainforests and lower montane forests. It prefers the interior of mature primary forests but can also be found at forest edges and in mature secondary forests.

Distribution

The Wedge-billed Woodcreeper is distributed across a broad range, from southern Mexico through Central America and into South America, including countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Behaviour

As a year-round resident, the Wedge-billed Woodcreeper is often seen foraging in pairs or within mixed-species flocks. It feeds primarily on small arthropods, which it gleans from tree trunks and branches.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of this species vary among subspecies but generally include a series of ascending, bubbly notes or clear whistles. Calls are less variable, with sounds such as "pweek!", "cheeyf!", and "djeep" being common.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by location, with nests typically built in natural cavities or those created by woodpeckers. The clutch size is usually two eggs, and both parents are involved in incubation and rearing the young.

Similar Species

The Wedge-billed Woodcreeper's unique bill shape and size distinguish it from other woodcreeper species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists almost exclusively of very small arthropods. The bird employs a hitching motion up trunks or along branches to forage, often flaking bark or hammering wood to find its prey.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Wedge-billed Woodcreeper as Least Concern. It has a large range and a stable population, though there is some evidence of a decline. Its adaptability to second growth and forest fragments suggests a resilience to habitat disturbance.