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OVENBIRDS (FURNARIIDAE; 35 SPECIES) Large New World family most diverse

in South America. Plumage mainly shades of brown, many species with a pale wingstripe visible

in flight. Ages similar or slightly different, sexes similar. Voice and behavior helpful for ID.

WOODCREEPERS

(16 species). Formerly considered a separate family and, as name suggests,

typically creep and hitch on trunks and branches, like woodpeckers. For ID note overall size, habitat,

behavior, bill size and shape, extent of any paler streaks and spots, voice (sing mostly very early and at dusk).

*NORTHERN WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER  Glyphorynchus [spirurus]

pectoralis 14–15cm. Very small, short-billed woodcreeper of humid forest, taller

second growth, plantations. Low to high on trunks of trees all sizes; often fairly

active. Joins mixed flocks. Often looks rather dark: note small size, wedge-

shaped bill, pale eyebrow, spotted chest. SOUNDS:  Song a high, squeaky,

twittering crescendo, overall slightly ascending, ends abruptly, 1–2.5 secs.

Sharp, high chipping chrrik, often doubled, and longer series of chips that may

suggest a scolding squirrel. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes,

to 1500m. (Mexico to S America.)

*GRAYISH [OLIVACEOUS] WOODCREEPER  Sittasomus [griseicapillus] griseus

15–16cm. Small plain woodcreeper of humid forest, taller second growth,

gallery forest. Low to high on trunks of trees all sizes; often fairly active, spirals

up one tree before dropping to base of nearby tree and starting again. Joins mixed

flocks. Note small size, lack of streaking, small slender bill. SOUNDS: Song a fast-

paced, overslurred, liquid trill, usually about 1 sec; cf. Plain Xenops. Also quiet

churring trills that can last 2–3 mins, and a short, dry, rattling trill that suggests

Long-billed Gnatwren. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, mainly 500–

1700m; uncommon and local in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to n. S America.)

TAWNY-WINGED WOODCREEPER  Dendrocincla anabatina 18–19cm.

Rather chunky woodcreeper of humid lowland forest, mangroves. Mainly at low

to mid-levels, often on thin trunks at ant swarms where overlooked easily. Note

pale eyebrow, bicolored wings, whitish throat; often raises slightly bushy crest.

SOUNDS: Plaintive, sometimes sharp slurred whistle, tcheu! or tchee-u, at times re-

peated steadily. Song (?) an insistent, prolonged staccato rattle of rough nasal

chips almost slow enough to count, chri-chri..., sometimes to over a min. STA-

TUS: Fairly common (at ant swarms, otherwise seen infrequently), mainly on s.

Pacific slope; rarely to 1500m. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER  Dendrocincla fuliginosa 20–21.5cm. Rather

chunky, notably plain but distinctive woodcreeper of humid lowland forest, adja-

cent second growth. Habits much like Tawny-winged Woodcreeper. Note dark

mustache offsetting paler gray face. SOUNDS: Slightly explosive tinny, underslurred

p’SIEK, at times with rough, snarling quality. Song an overslurred or slightly de-

scending nasal rattle, 1.5–3 secs, slowing into a few laughing notes at the end. Also

fairly rapid, prolonged chipping rattles, notes too fast to count, dirr-irr..., often

pulsating and sometimes to over a min. STATUS: Fairly common (at ant swarms,

otherwise seen infrequently) on Caribbean slope, locally to 1000m. (Honduras to

S America.)

RUDDY WOODCREEPER  Dendrocincla homochroa 19–20cm. Rather chunky,

bright ruddy woodcreeper of humid lowland and foothill forest, adjacent second

growth. Habits much like Tawny-winged Woodcreeper. Note bushy face, paler

eyering. SOUNDS: High, reedy, slightly plaintive slurred sreeah and more drawn-

out tleeeoo. Song a slightly descending, churring rattle, 3–4 secs; slower, slightly

harsher than Plain-brown, without laughing quality. Also a prolonged, churring

rattle of harsh wooden chips, up to a min or longer, slowing slightly at end; faster-

paced than Tawny-winged, notes too fast to count. STATUS: Uncommon (at ant

swarms, otherwise seen infrequently) on Pacific slope, to 1500m; scarce on

Caribbean slope, mainly 500–1000m. (Mexico to nw. S America.)