Pale-browed Treehunter Cichlocolaptes leucophrus Scientific name definitions

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The Pale-browed Treehunter is a rather large, long-billed furnariid of the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil. It is brown heavily streaked with pale buff, the streaks on the underparts so broad that is largely pale below. The northern population (C. l. leucophrys) is larger and paler above and has a paler rufous tail than the southern population (C. l. holti). It gleans for arthropods in epiphytes and dead leaves at various forest strata, often in association with mixed flocks. There is no information available on the breeding behavior of this species.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

18–23 cm. Heavily striped, dagger-billed furnariid reminiscent of some woodcreepers in plumage pattern and shape. Has buffish-white supercilium extending posteriorly to collar, and anteriorly very narrowly to supraloral region; lores grizzled blackish and dull buff, postocular band dark brown with faint dark golden shaft streaks; rest of face dull buff, faintly flecked dark brown; crown dark brown with fine, sharply demarcated buff to rusty-buff shaft-streaks, vague collar of blackish-brown feathers with broader buff streaks; back rufescent brown with long, blurry buff streaks, rump and uppertail-coverts slightly paler brown with vague buff streaking; wing-coverts brown with inconspicuous buff shaft-streaks, remiges rich brown; tail nearly square, shafts stiffened basally, pointed tips, pale rufous; throat pale yellowish buff; breast strongly streaked pale buff and brown, belly, flanks and undertail-coverts similar but with streaks fading posteriorly; iris very dark; maxilla dusky grey, mandible paler, fleshy brown, greyer towards tip; tarsus and toes greenish grey or dull yellowish green to pale brownish. Sexes alike. Juvenile has less distinct pattern of streaking on underparts.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

18–23 cm. Heavily striped , dagger-billed furnariid reminiscent of some woodcreepers in plumage pattern and shape. Differs from the formerly conspecific C. leucophrus in its darker tail, blacker feathers in buff-streaked dark crown, slightly more olive upperparts; slightly more extensive plain buff throat , generally broader, paler supercilium , and smaller size (mean wing of male and female, c. 83 mm and 89 mm, respectively, vs. c. 98 mm and 103 mm in C. leucophrus; tail c. 75 mm and 79·5 mm, vs. 87 mm and 86·5 mm, respectively). Sexes alike.

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Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

SE Brazil (S Bahia S to Rio de Janeiro).

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

SE Brazil (São Paulo S to NE Santa Catarina and NE Rio Grande do Sul).

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Arthropods. Forages, perhaps usually in mixed-species flocks, from understorey to subcanopy. Moves along larger limbs and branches, often disappears completely into clumps of epiphytes, and may hang upside-down. Probes and gleans for items, mainly from bromeliads and other epiphytic plants, and from dead leaves. In one study, 90% of this species’ foraging was conducted in bromeliads, especially their interior (65%) unlike other species that regularly use the same substrates (e.g. Philydor atricapillus and Anabacerthia amaurotis), which may be partially destroyed by the bird as proceeds with its investigations.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

No known differences from C. leucophrus. Diet arthropods including spiders. Forages , perhaps usually in mixed-species flocks, from understorey to subcanopy. Moves along larger limbs and branches, often disappears completely into clumps of epiphytes. Probes and gleans for items, mainly from bromeliads and other epiphytic plants and from dead leaves.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Song loud, ringing “reep” notes, variable in number, sometimes interspersed with fast chattering notes, also described as a fast, dry rattle comprising 50–77 notes (mean c. 64) over 2·2–3·6 seconds (mean 2·95) followed closely by a series of 5–8 (mean six) loud, short notes delivered at a regular pace, sometimes giving a faster rattle of c. 1 second at end of phrase, or in response to playback isolated rattles at a rate of 19·5–22·2 notes/second, with the rattle lasting up to 9·2 seconds; gives antiphonal duet. Call a loud “krip, shrip”.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

Vocalizations similar to those of formerly conspecific C. leucophrus, but shows a higher frequency in rattle call and higher pitch in raspy call. Song similar in pattern to that of C. leucophrus and the recently described C. mazarbarnetti (from NE Brazil), in that it is a fast, dry rattle of 0·5–4·3 seconds (mean 2·35) comprising 10–89 (mean c. 47) notes, at mean rate of 20·09 notes/second (vs. 21·6 notes/second in C. leucophrus) followed closely by a series of 4–8 (mean 6·3) loud, short notes delivered at a regular pace, with each of the short notes starting by increasing in frequency (mean 3·8 kHz), but unlike songs of C. mazarbarnetti (mean 2·07 kHz) and C. leucophrus (mean 3·07 kHz) the decrease at end is not as evident, while the initial rattle maintains a constant frequency throughout. Also, like C. mazarbarnetti and C. leucophrus, sometimes delivers a shorter (0·3 second) and more rapid rattle at end of phrase.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

Pale-browed Treehunter (Pale-tailed)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. Rare to locally fairly common, with records from three Important Bird Areas in state of Bahia, and five each in states of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. Overall range estimated at 255,000 km², and is believed to be declining. Fairly common in Sooretama and Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserves (Espírito Santo), and Serra dos Órgãos National Park (Rio de Janeiro); uncommon in Itatiaia National Park (Rio de Janeiro). Extensive deforestation within its relatively small range has dramatically reduced the area of its habitat.

Pale-browed Treehunter (Rufous-tailed)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. Rare (especially in S of range, in states of Rio Grande do Sul, where only recently discovered, and Santa Catarina) to locally fairly common, with records from five Important Bird Areas in the state of São Paulo, four in Paraná, three in Santa Catarina and one in Rio Grande do Sul. Overall range estimated at 253,000 km², and is believed to be declining. Known from a number of conservation units, including Serra do Mar State Park (where fairly common), Intervales State Park and Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station (São Paulo), RPPN Volta Velha (Santa Catarina) and São Francisco de Paula National Forest (Rio Grande do Sul).