White-chinned Woodcreeper Dendrocincla merula Scientific name definitions

Seven subspecies of the exclusively Amazonian White-chinned Woodcreeper are generally recognized, but it seems plausible that the nominate subspecies and D. m. obidensis, which are both restricted to areas north of the Amazon and east of the Rio Negro, are better treated as a species apart, based on differences in their songs, size, and eye color. Over its wide range, from southern Venezuela south to northeastern Bolivia, this woodcreeper inhabits a variety of forest types, but it is principally found in terra firme and floodplain regions, and is only usually observed at the fringes of seasonally flooded forests. This obligate follower of army ant swarms, which takes most of its vertebrate and invertebrate prey on or close to the ground, appears to be uncommon over the vast majority of Amazonia, perhaps as a result of it being out-competed by many of the larger ‘professional’ antbirds at many localities over western and southern localities; where these species are absent, the White-chinned Woodcreeper seems more numerous.

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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.

Calls often heard near ant swarms, but songs poorly known; both vary geographically. Most frequent vocalization a multi-note chatter call, often given at ant swarms, usually 2–4 notes, described as “dit-it-it-it” or “tat-at-at” over most of range, but piercing “deet-eet-ee” in N Amazonia E of R Negro. Song in Manaus area (Brazil) a series of 6–9 loud, whistled notes described as “kew, kew, kew, kew, kew, kewp”, but over most of range apparently lower in frequency and described as “we, wi, di, dit”, or “wi-wid-wid-di” in SE Colombia, and in some places an ascending whistle of 2–3 notes. Other calls include sharp “spee” notes in Manaus area, growling “chauhhh”, long rattle at 4–5 notes per second (i.e. slower than D. fuliginosa), quiet “wi-i-i-i-ih” rattle, also “tsiriRIT” possibly as warning call.