Red-billed Scythebill

The Red-billed Scythebill, known scientifically as Campylorhamphus trochilirostris, is a striking member of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. This slim, medium-sized woodcreeper is adorned with a remarkably long and curved bill, which is a defining characteristic of the species.

Identification Tips

Adults of the species typically measure between 22 to 28 cm in length and weigh between 30 to 55 grams. They exhibit a reddish olive-brown plumage on the crown, nape, and back, with a lighter back and a cinnamon-rufous rump. The flight feathers are rufous-chestnut, and the tail is a slightly darker shade of the same color. The underparts are a lighter brown with buff streaks on the breast. The bill is a bright red or reddish brown, often with a dusky tip and base, and the legs and feet are grayish olive to dull pea-green.

Habitat

The Red-billed Scythebill occupies a variety of wooded habitats, ranging from open to semi-open landscapes. These include gallery forests, cerrado, caatinga, savannah forest clusters, secondary forests, and some scrublands. It is also found in seasonally flooded forests and riverside canebrakes within the Amazon Basin.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across South America, with its range extending from Panama through parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

Behaviour

The Red-billed Scythebill is a year-round resident within its range. It is known to forage alone or in pairs and often participates in mixed-species feeding flocks. Its foraging behavior includes hitching up trunks and branches, probing for prey in various natural crevices.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Red-billed Scythebill vary geographically. In Venezuela, it emits a rapid descending whinny, while in western Ecuador and Peru, it produces a descending series of whistled notes. In northeastern Brazil, its song comprises a short series of fluted notes that ascend at the end.

Breeding

Breeding seasons differ across the species' range, with nesting occurring between May and July in northern Venezuela and September to November in southern Brazil. The Red-billed Scythebill nests in tree cavities, lining them with leaves and other plant matter. Clutch sizes range from one to three eggs, and both parents are believed to contribute to brood care.

Similar Species

The Red-billed Scythebill can be confused with other scythebill species, but its bright red bill and specific plumage patterns help distinguish it from its relatives.

Diet and Feeding

Its diet consists mainly of arthropods, particularly soft-bodied insects and spiders, as well as small vertebrates. The bird is adept at extracting its prey from various natural hiding spots.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the Red-billed Scythebill as Least Concern. It boasts a large range and a substantial population, though there is a belief that numbers are in decline. The species is generally considered uncommon to fairly common, though it is scarce in some areas and sensitive to human disturbance.