White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes albicollis Scientific name definitions

The White-throated Woodcreeper has a large range in the Atlantic Forest region, from Bahia in northeast Brazil, south to northeast Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and southernmost Brazil. Throughout this region it is highly dependent on reasonably intact forest from lowlands to montane regions, although it is probably commonest in the foothills. This is a large woodcreeper with a heavy-based, all-dark bill, a dark-streaked head and neck, a white throat, brown underparts streaked white and barred darker posteriorly, and warm brown upperparts. It could be confused with the broadly similarly plumaged Planalto Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes platyrostris), but there is no geographical overlap with congenerics such as the globally threatened Moustached Woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes falcirostris).

27·5–33 cm, 110–130 g. Large, relatively heavy-bodied woodcreeper with rather short tail, long decurved bill. Nominate race has whitish to pale buff supercilium and moustachial stripe, dark postocular stripe and blackish malar stripe; black forehead, crown and nape contrast with brownish-olive back and wing-coverts , and rusty-chestnut rump ; crown and face with conspicuous cream to buff streaking, upper back narrowly and indistinctly streaked; inner webs of remiges light chestnut, outer webs dark brown, tips dusky; tail dark chestnut, shafts darker; white to buffy white throat contrasts strongly with olive-brown to tawny remaining underparts, ground colour less tawny in S (“argentinus”); breast and sides boldly streaked pale buff to whitish, streaks in centre of breast bordered by darker spots, belly, thighs and undertail-coverts barred (more distinctly than on other Xiphocolaptes); underwing-coverts cinnamon, barred black; iris red to brown, orbital skin greenish; bill black, sometimes horn-coloured lower mandible; legs and feet yellowish-grey to dark green, brownish-grey or black. Distinguished from remarkably similar Dendrocolaptes platyrostris by longer, heavier bill, bold malar stripe, better-defined white throat. Sexes similar. Juveniles has shorter bill, broad drop-like spots of rusty-yellow on crown. Race villanovae is paler overall than nominate, with dark brown crown, more conspicuous supercilium, weaker barring on belly, shorter bill; bahiae is paler and browner, crown dark brown with tawny-rufous streaks, breast streaks lack dark borders, barring below restricted to a few dusky spots in centre of belly.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Humid Atlantic Forest, and semi-deciduous and gallery forests amid cerrado and Chaco. Characteristic species of Brazilian Atlantic Forest, but not completely restricted to it. In addition to primary forest, regularly frequents mature second growth, edges, occasionally even isolated trees in scrubby clearings. Occurs from lowlands to subtropical foothills above 2000 m; mostly below 1500 m, and possibly most common in tropical hill forest.

Apparently resident throughout range; recent studies recorded its presence throughout year even at S limit of range in SE Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul).

Mostly arthropods, but takes snails, bird eggs, and occasionally small vertebrates. Stomach contents have included cockroaches (Blattodea), beetles of various types, ants, and fly larvae; observed to take bird eggs from cavity nests. Generally encountered singly, sometimes in pairs; usually alone, but sometimes in association with either mixed-species flocks or ant swarms; dropped out of mixed-species flocks during breeding season at one site. Forages at all levels in forest, though seems to prefer lower and middle levels, and often seen quite close to the ground; not shy, but often climbs behind trunks when approached. Usually in lower strata of forest, where it moves slowly over fallen logs or up trunks, digging in and tearing off bark to expose prey hiding beneath. In one study, most foraging was concentrated on relatively large trunks (average diameter over 75 cm) at 5–8 m above ground, with maximum height only 12–13 m; often forages on rough bark, and generally on trunks and large branches. Obtains most food by gleaning, less frequently by flaking bark or pecking more forcefully. Like congeners, regularly pecks on rotting wood and forages amid bromeliads; may be a bromeliad-foraging specialist. Recorded foraging over swarms of both Eciton burchelli and Labidus praedator; one bird seen to sally from low trunk to ground after prey flushed by ants.

Sings primarily at dawn and dusk, sometimes adjacent to roost site; one of last birds to sing in the evening. Song typical of genus, a nasal whine followed by a loud, descending series of 4–6 disyllabic whistles, “reenht-wi-KEER wi-KEER wi-KEER wi-KEER wi-KEER wi-KEER wick” or “tee-ay, heechee hechee, hichee, hitchy…”, series sometimes ending with throaty rattle, especially when agitated; both partners sing, female song hoarser but weaker. During day gives snarls, including rising “wheee”, also 2-note call, possibly when alarmed, variously described as “cha-EESK”, “wheee-chuck” or “eweh-wet”, with initial note prolonged and forceful, and second ending in a pop.

Birds with fully active gonads in Oct–Nov in Brazil and E Paraguay, and active nests in Sept–Nov in NE Argentina. Nest in natural cavity in tree; does not excavate nest. Clutch 2–4 white eggs, average 35 mm × 25 mm. Incubation period, 17 days; nestling period, 18–22 days; both adults bring nest material, incubate the eggs, feed the nestlings and remove fecal sacs (2 Cockle, K.L. and Bodrati, A. (2013). Nesting of the White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes albicollis. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 125(4): 782–789. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Uncommon to fairly common over much of its range, and common at some sites in S Brazil; rare at fringe of range in S Paraguay (Ñeembucú region). Suggested to be only moderately sensitive to human disturbance, which may explain continued presence in relatively small fragments, older second growth and selectively logged sites. Abundance decreases with forest area, and ability to survive in smaller fragments less clear; recorded in Paraná (Brazil) in forest reserves as small as 11 ha within a matrix of fragments, even after over 40 years of isolation. Apparently less able to withstand fragmentation at sites farther N, possibly owing to greater degree of isolation of fragments; in Brazil, absent from tracts of 145 ha and 21 ha in São Paulo, and numbers significantly reduced in fragments smaller than 100 ha in Minas Gerais. May be affected detrimentally by selective cutting of its preferred large trees. An indicator species for humid broadleaf and lower montane Atlantic Forests.