Family Ovenbirds (Furnariidae)
Least Concern
Ruddy Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla homochroa)
Taxonomy
French: Grimpar roux German: Rostkappen-Baumsteiger Spanish: Trepatroncos rojizo
Taxonomy:
Dendromanes homochrous
P. L. Sclater
, 1860,Teotalcingo, Oaxaca, Mexico
.
Subspecies and Distribution
D. h. homochroa
(P. L. Sclater, 1860) – Caribbean and Pacific slopes of S Mexico (N & NE Oaxaca, Yucatán Peninsula) S & E to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador (one site), Honduras and NE Nicaragua.
D. h. acedesta
Oberholser, 1904 – Pacific slope from SW Nicaragua S to W Panama; also (apparently this race) on Caribbean slope in N two-thirds of Costa Rica.
D. h. ruficeps
P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1868 – C & E Panama (E from E Chiriquí) and locally in adjacent NW Colombia (N Chocó).
D. h. meridionalis
Phelps, Sr & Phelps, Jr, 1953 – N Colombia and NW Venezuela (lower slopes of Santa Marta Mts#R, Sierra de Perijá, Cordillera de Mérida and Cerro El Cogollal).
Descriptive notes
17·5–20·5 cm; male 34–43 g, female 27–39 g (Yucatán S to Guatemala), male average 45 g, female 37 g (Panama). Medium-sized woodcreeper with straight bill,... read more
Voice
Quiet and rarely heard. Song a 2·5–4 second rattle, churring or slightly slurred, that slows... read more
Habitat
Humid and deciduous lowland forest; evergreen cloudforest into upper tropical and, occasionally,... read more
Food and feeding
Diet largely arthropods. Stomach contents reveal prey similar to that seen taken over swarming army ants. Important prey include spiders,... read more
Breeding
Season Apr–Jun in Costa Rica; nests with eggs in Jun in Belize; birds in breeding condition in late May to mid-Aug in Yucatán... read more
Movements
Largely resident. Reports of vagrants at La Selva Biological Station, in Costa Rica, and Barro... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Generally uncommon to fairly common throughout N part of range (Mexico S to E & SW Costa Rica), but less common and more local in El Salvador (... read more
Race acedesta sometimes merged with nominate, on grounds that size variation is clinal. Racial identity of birds on Caribbean slope of Costa Rica requires confirmation. Original description of species in 1859 issue of journal, but not published till Feb 1860#R#R. Four subspecies recognized.