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STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus 30–
32cm. Very large, stout-billed woodcreeper of mature, humid foothill forest,
especially with large bromeliads. Feeds low to high, often in bromeliads and
sometimes on ground; joins mixed flocks of larger birds. Note overall size, long
and stout pale grayish bill, whitish throat bordered by broad dark mustache. Cf.
Costa Rican Woodcreeper. SOUNDS: Song a loud, often slightly descending
series of (usually 4–10) paired whistles, with jerky, ratcheting cadence: higher
1st part slurred, 2nd part short, fairly abrupt, chooh’ih chooh’ih..., mostly 6–10
secs. Calls infrequently, a muffled, drawn-out snarl slurred into a short emphatic
cluck, ryehhr chk! STATUS: Scarce on both slopes, mainly 500–1700m. (Mexico
to S America.)
*COSTA RICAN [BLACK-BANDED] WOODCREEPER Dendrocolaptes [pic
umnus] costaricensis 26–27.5cm. Poorly known large woodcreeper of humid
foothill and highland forest. Mainly at mid–upper levels; often sluggish and
overlooked easily. Distinctive if seen well, with rather straight bill, streaked
head and chest in contrast to plain back, barred belly. Cf. larger, much stouter-
billed Strong-billed Woodcreeper. SOUNDS: Song a laughing, descending,
slightly accelerating series of slightly nasal whistles, starts fairly abruptly and
fades quickly at end, Whii-whii-whii-whiihuihhuihuih, 3–4 secs. STATUS: Scarce
on Caribbean slope and locally on cen. Pacific slope, mainly 900–2000m.
(Costa Rica to w. Panama.)
NORTHERN BARRED WOODCREEPER Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae 26–28
cm. Distinctive large woodcreeper of humid lowland forest; often at army ant
swarms, where sits quietly and overlooked easily. Barring can be difficult to see
in shady forest, often looks rather dark and plain overall; note dark lores, stout
blackish bill with pinkish base. SOUNDS: Song a slightly ascending and
intensifying series of (usually 2–8) upslurred, 2-syllable, twangy whistles each
ending with a sharp upward inflection, duuwih’ duuwih’...; sometimes breaks
into quicker, shorter notes and agitated clucking. Infrequent call a downslurred,
fairly quiet nasal che’eh. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes,
locally to 1500m; uncommon and local in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to nw.
Ecuador.)
BLACK-STRIPED WOODCREEPER Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus 23.5–25cm.
Fairly large, distinctive, and boldly marked woodcreeper of humid forest and
edge, adjacent second growth woodland, plantations. Mainly at mid–upper
levels, often with mixed flocks. No similar species in Costa Rica: note bold
whitish to pale buff spotting on back and underparts. SOUNDS: Calls include a
rich underslurred whistle, tchooih and a slightly descending, laughing series of
(usually 3–5) quick whistled notes whee-wee-weep, or whir’wee-wee-weep. Song
an overall slightly descending or overslurred, fairy rapid laughing series of notes,
hui-hui..., mostly 2–4 secs, with 8–9 notes/sec; more prolonged and harsher
when agitated; faster-paced, more laughing than Cocoa Woodcreeper. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly
common on both slopes, to 1200m. (Nicaragua to nw. Ecuador.)
