Great Rufous Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes major Scientific name definitions

The Great Rufous Woodcreeper is a giant among woodcreepers; it is not only large and big bodied but has a thick and stout bill. This denizen of Chaco forest is well named as it is big and rufous. Many other woodcreepers have a predominance of rufous coloration, but the Great Rufous is evenly rufous with little to no markings on that rufous plumage. It lacks strong streaking, barring or spotting as is typical in this family. The throat is whitish; the eyes reddish, and the bill a pale blue-grey. However a most striking feature is that the lores are entirely black, creating a black-masked look that is distinctive, and contrasts with the pale blue-grey bill. Vocally this is a loud woodcreeper but it does not vocalize all that often, but has a vocalization similar to that of the other large Xiphocolaptes woodcreepers. It is a slowing, lilting series of awkward sounding notes “yakaa….yakaa….yakaa….. yakaa…..yakaa…”

27–34 cm; male 120–150 g, female 120–162 g. Large, heavy-bodied woodcreeper with long, heavy, somewhat decurved bill . Nominate race is bright cinnamon-rufous overall , slightly more brownish or olive on crown (variable) and more chestnut on tail; remiges reddish-brown, primaries with dusky tips; lores blackish; throat pale cinnamon with whitish-buff streaking, underparts cinnamon, variable amount of buffy shaft streaks on breast and dusky brownish barring on belly; uniform cinnamon-rufous undertail-coverts; iris dark brown, rich red-brown or crimson; bill horn-coloured basally, and horn-white distally, smoky blue-grey, or grey to greyish-olive with blackish tip; legs and feet dark greyish-olive, greenish or bluish-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile differs from adult in generally clearer, more brilliant coloration, especially below, and more obvious breast streaking but weaker borders to crown feathers. Race <em>remoratus</em> has darker upper­parts, less ferruginous underparts , whitish on throat more limited than nominate; <em>castaneus</em> is darker overall (especially on more brownish head), upperparts deeper chestnut, breast more narrowly streaked, barring on belly reduced; estebani is similar to nominate, but much lighter in general coloration.

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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.

Largely insectivorous , but small vertebrates taken at least occasionally. Stomach contents chiefly invertebrates, comprising ants, grasshoppers (Acrididae), various types of beetle, pentatomid bugs, earwigs (Dermaptera), Lepidoptera larvae, and remains of other insects, but with trace amounts of vegetable matter and bits of snail shell. Has been observed eating a hylid frog 7 cm long, and taking (but not definitely eating) an unidentified colubrid snake 40 cm in length; a remarkable observation of an individual first pecking on and then eating a bat. Usually encountered alone or in pairs; occasionally in groups of three, probably representing families. Creeps like a woodpecker (Picidae) along trunks and large branches from understorey to subcanopy; also regularly descends to forage on ground , especially among open groves of trees. Most prey probably obtained by gleaning and probing, but sometimes rummages among leaf litter on ground or pecks loudly on trunks.

Song  a slightly descending series of up to 12 disyllabic “hic!-up” whistles with loud, ringing quality, possibly longer in duration and including more notes than songs of congeners. Often gives a two-part call similar to notes of song, but more emphatic, longer, accented on second syllable, “eeehr-eek!”.