Olivaceous Woodcreeper
Encyclopedia
The Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) is a passerine
bird
of the tropical Americas
. It belongs to the true woodcreeper
s (tribe
Dendrocolaptini) of the ovenbird family
(Furnariidae).
It is presently the only member of the genus
Sittasomus, but includes several vocally and morphologically distinct forms. Thus, the species
might be split into several in the future.
is a slender bird, typically 15 cm long, and weighing 13g. The head, upper back and underparts are lighter or darker greyish olive, and the wings, tail and lower back are light rufous. The bill is short and thin.
The normal call is a fast, high-pitched trill wu-wu-wu-we-we-we-we-ee-ee-ee-ee-we-we-we-we.
It breeds from southern Mexico
through tropical Central
and South America
to northern Argentina
and Uruguay
, and also on Tobago
. The species
is found throughout the Amazon Basin
, but is absent from its lowest reaches, including much of the adjacent Guyanas
.
There, the subspecies
of northeastern Amazonia (S. g. axillaris) ranges at least to the Pakaraima Mountains, where it is fairly common at 1,200-1,400 meters ASL
, descending to about 850 meters ASL on occasion. The Olivaceous Woodcreeper has also been recorded from extreme southern Guyana
and the Essequibo River
(which may be its eastern limit in the region). It is apparently completely absent from eastern Guyana eastwards through Suriname
and French Guyana.
In Uruguay, it has yet been found only in some places of in Cerro Largo Department
, but it is by no means rare in its limited range. The species has been recorded at the Yaguarón River near the Cuchilla de Mangrullo, as well as in the Sierra de los Ríos.
The Olivaceous Woodcreeper is a common and widespread bird of forests and other woodlands. The Olivaceous Woodcreeper feeds on insect
s and spider
s. It normally forages on tree trunks or large branches or on the ground, usually singly.
These birds may associate with foraging groups of Golden Lion Tamarin
s (Leontopithecus rosalia), to snatch prey startled by the monkeys. They can also be occasionally seen catching flying prey like termite
s in mid-air, and will sometimes join mixed-species feeding flock
s. In some places (e.g. in the Serra de Paranapiacaba of Brazil
) they may even form a core species of such flocks.
It builds a nest lined with dead leaves in a tree hole, and lays three white eggs.
Due to its extremely wide range, the Olivaceous Woodcreeper is not considered a threatened species
by the IUCN.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
of the tropical Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. It belongs to the true woodcreeper
Woodcreeper
The woodcreepers comprise a subfamily of sub-oscine passerine birds endemic to the Neotropics. They have traditionally been considered a distinct family Dendrocolaptidae, but most authorities now place them as a subfamily of the ovenbirds...
s (tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Dendrocolaptini) of the ovenbird family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Furnariidae).
It is presently the only member of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Sittasomus, but includes several vocally and morphologically distinct forms. Thus, the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
might be split into several in the future.
Description and ecology
This small woodcreeperWoodcreeper
The woodcreepers comprise a subfamily of sub-oscine passerine birds endemic to the Neotropics. They have traditionally been considered a distinct family Dendrocolaptidae, but most authorities now place them as a subfamily of the ovenbirds...
is a slender bird, typically 15 cm long, and weighing 13g. The head, upper back and underparts are lighter or darker greyish olive, and the wings, tail and lower back are light rufous. The bill is short and thin.
The normal call is a fast, high-pitched trill wu-wu-wu-we-we-we-we-ee-ee-ee-ee-we-we-we-we.
It breeds from southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
through tropical Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, and also on Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
. The species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is found throughout the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, but is absent from its lowest reaches, including much of the adjacent Guyanas
Guyanas
Guyana is a country in South America.Guyana, Guayana, or Guiana may also refer to:*Guayana Esequiba, the territory of Guyana claimed by Venezuela*Guayana Region, an administrative region of Venezuela...
.
There, the subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of northeastern Amazonia (S. g. axillaris) ranges at least to the Pakaraima Mountains, where it is fairly common at 1,200-1,400 meters ASL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
, descending to about 850 meters ASL on occasion. The Olivaceous Woodcreeper has also been recorded from extreme southern Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
and the Essequibo River
Essequibo River
The Esequibo River is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil-Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,010 km through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.-Geography:There are countless...
(which may be its eastern limit in the region). It is apparently completely absent from eastern Guyana eastwards through Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
and French Guyana.
In Uruguay, it has yet been found only in some places of in Cerro Largo Department
Cerro Largo Department
Cerro Largo Department is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Melo.-History:During the 19th and early 20th centuries, when intermittent periods of civil war occurred in Uruguay, the department was a stronghold of the Blanco party...
, but it is by no means rare in its limited range. The species has been recorded at the Yaguarón River near the Cuchilla de Mangrullo, as well as in the Sierra de los Ríos.
The Olivaceous Woodcreeper is a common and widespread bird of forests and other woodlands. The Olivaceous Woodcreeper feeds on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s. It normally forages on tree trunks or large branches or on the ground, usually singly.
These birds may associate with foraging groups of Golden Lion Tamarin
Golden Lion Tamarin
The golden lion tamarin also known as the golden marmoset, is a small New World monkey of the family Callitrichidae...
s (Leontopithecus rosalia), to snatch prey startled by the monkeys. They can also be occasionally seen catching flying prey like termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
s in mid-air, and will sometimes join mixed-species feeding flock
Mixed-species feeding flock
A mixed-species feeding flock, also termed a mixed-species foraging flock, mixed hunting party or informally bird wave, is a flock of usually insectivorous birds of different species, that join each other and move together while foraging...
s. In some places (e.g. in the Serra de Paranapiacaba of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) they may even form a core species of such flocks.
It builds a nest lined with dead leaves in a tree hole, and lays three white eggs.
Due to its extremely wide range, the Olivaceous Woodcreeper is not considered a threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
by the IUCN.
Further reading
- ffrench, Richard; O'Neill, John Patton & Eckelberry, Don R. (1991): A guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd edition). Comstock Publishing, Ithaca, N.Y.. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2
- Hilty, Steven L. (2003): Birds of Venezuela. Christopher HelmHelm Identification GuidesThe Helm Identification Guides are a series of books that identify groups of birds. The series include two types of guides, those that are:* Taxonomic, dealing with a particular family of birds on a worldwide scale—most early Helm Guides were this type, as well as many more-recent ones,...
, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
External links
- Olivaceous Woodcreeper videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Photo-Medium Res; Article chandra.as.utexas.edu
- Olivaceous Woodcreeper photo gallery VIREO
