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Scimitar-billed woodcreeper
At Santa Fe Province, Argentina
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Furnariidae
Subfamily:	Dendrocolaptinae
Genus:	Drymornis Eyton, 1852
Species:	D. bridgesii
Binomial name
Drymornis bridgesii (Eyton, 1849)

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper (Drymornis bridgesii) is a species of bird in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Taxonomy and systematics

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper is most closely related to the greater scythebill (Drymotoxeres pucheranii). It is the only member of its genus and is monotypic: No subspecies are recognized.

Description

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper is 26 to 35 cm (10 to 14 in) long and weighs 76 to 110 g (2.7 to 3.9 oz). It is a large woodcreeper with a relatively short tail and a long decurved bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have dark rufous ear coverts and a white supercilium and moustachial stripe. Their forehead, crown, and nape are rufous to dark brown, with the nape being slightly lighter with white flecks. Their back, scapulars, and most wing coverts are cinnamon-brown to reddish brown. Their rump, uppertail coverts, and tail are rufous. Their greater primary coverts and flight feathers are darker brown than the back. Their throat is white. Their underparts are reddish brown with bold white streaks that narrow through the belly onto the undertail coverts. The streaks have dark brown edges. Their iris is yellowish or light grayish brown to dark brown, their bill brownish or black with a pinkish base to the mandible, and their legs and feet horn, gray, or dull black. Juveniles have dark and light chestnut streaks on the neck and less well defined streaks than adults on the underparts.

Distribution and habitat

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper is found in extreme southeastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, and through Uruguay south to north-central Argentina. It inhabits the Gran Chaco, Pampas, and Argentine Espinal ecoregions, where it occurs in woodlands, scrublands, thorn forest, and savanna. It also occurs in abandoned pastures and fragmentary woodlands in agricultural areas. In most areas it reaches an elevation of only 500 m (1,600 ft) but in parts of Argentina reaches 1,350 m (4,400 ft).

Behavior

Movement

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range, though some post-breeding dispersal is postulated.

Feeding

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper is unique among woodcreepers by foraging mainly on the ground. It does, however, also forage on trees and cacti. Its diet is varied and includes arthropods, other invertebrates like snails, many kinds of vertebrates including frogs, snakes, lizards, and nestling birds, and reptile and bird eggs. It captures some prey by probing into the ground, bromeliads, and holes in trees and cacti, and other prey by grabbing it from the ground surface. It typically forages singly or in pairs. It has been observed in small groups as well, sometimes with other bird species.

Breeding

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper breeds between September and December. It nests in cavities in trees and palms, usually natural ones but also those excavated by woodpeckers, and has been observed using old nests of the rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus). It lines the bottom of the cavity with leaves and bark or wood chips. The clutch size is typically three eggs. The incubation period is about 14 days and fledging occurs about 21 days after hatch. Both sexes build the nest, incubate the eggs, and care for the nestlings.

Vocalization

The scimitar-billed woodcreeper's song is a "downslurred, decelerating series of upslurred whistled notes...tweedle tweedle tweed twee twee". It also sings "an almost level series of overslurred whistled notes...jli jli jli jli jli". Its calls include "sik, tsis-sik, or tsis-sik-sik" and a thrice-repeated "cheedle". Pairs sometimes sing in duet.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the scimitar-billed woodcreeper as being of Least Concern. It has a fairly large range, and though its population size is not known it is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. "Considering that Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper has been classified as an area-sensitive species that could become extinct in smaller fragments, as well as a species sensitive to vegetation structure conditions within patches and to forest fragmentation, further studies are needed to establish its specific habitat requirements throughout its range."

References

1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper Drymornis bridgesii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22703046A110879129. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22703046A110879129.en. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
2. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Ovenbirds, woodcreepers". IOC World Bird List. v 13.1. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 31 May 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved May 31, 2023
4. Claramunt, Santiago; Derryberry, Elizabeth P.; Chesser, R. Terry; Aleixo, Alexandre; Brumfield, Robb T. (2010). "Polyphyly of Campylorhamphus, and Description of a New Genus for C. pucherani (Dendrocolaptinae)". The Auk. 127 (2): 430–439. doi:10.1525/auk.2009.09022.
5. Harvey, M.G.; et al. (2020). "The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot". Science. 370 (6522): 1343–1348. Bibcode:2020Sci...370.1343H. doi:10.1126/science.aaz6970. hdl:10138/329703. PMID 33303617. S2CID 228084618. A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website here.
6. ^ Juárez, R. (2021). Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper (Drymornis bridgesii), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.scbwoo4.02 retrieved July 6, 2023
7. ^ van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7.

v t e Genera of passerines and their extinct allies
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Clade: Psittacopasseres Order: Passeriformes
Passeriformes incertae sedis †Corvitalusoides †Jamna †Winnicavis †Yunnanus Acanthisitti Acanthisittidae Acanthisitta †Dendroscansor †Kuiornis †Pachyplichas †Traversia Xenicus Eupasseres Tyranni †Crosnoornis †Wieslochia Eurylaimides Calyptomenidae Calyptomena Smithornis Eurylaimidae Corydon Cymbirhynchus Eurylaimus Psarisomus Pseudocalyptomena Sarcophanops Serilophus Philepittidae Neodrepanis Philepitta Pittidae Erythropitta Hydrornis Pitta Sapayoidae Sapayoa Tyrannides See below ↓ Passeri See below ↓
Tyrannides Conopophagidae Cephalopterus Conopophaga Pittasoma Cotingidae Ampelioides Ampelion Carpodectes Carpornis Conioptilon Cotinga Doliornis Gymnoderus Haematoderus Lipaugus Querula Perissocephalus Phibalura Phoenicircus Phytotoma Pipreola Porphyrolaema Procnias Pyroderus Rupicola Snowornis Xipholena Zaratornis Formicariidae Chamaeza Formicarius Furnariidae Berlepschia †Pseudoseisuropsis Sclerurinae Geositta Sclerurus Dendrocolaptinae Dendrocolaptini Campylorhamphus Dendrexetastes Dendrocolaptes Dendroplex Drymornis Drymotoxeres Glyphorynchus Hylexetastes Lepidocolaptes Nasica Xiphocolaptes Xiphorhynchus Sittasomini Certhiasomus Dendrocincla Deconychura Sittasomus Furnariinae Xenops Pygarrhichini Microxenops Ochetorhynchus Pygarrhichas Furnariini Cinclodes Furnarius Geocerthia Limnornis Lochmias Phleocryptes Premnornis Pseudocolaptes Tarphonomus Upucerthia Philydorini Anabacerthia Anabazenops Ancistrops Automolus Cichlocolaptes Clibanornis Dendroma Heliobletus Megaxenops Philydor Syndactyla Thripadectes Synallaxini Acrobatornis Anumbius Aphrastura Asthenes Certhiaxis Coryphistera Cranioleuca Hellmayrea Leptasthenura Limnoctites Margarornis Mazaria Metopothrix Phacellodomus Premnoplex Pseudasthenes Pseudoseisura Roraimia Schoeniophylax Siptornis Spartonoica Sylviorthorhynchus Synallaxis Thripophaga Xenerpestes Grallariidae Cryptopezus Grallaria Grallaricula Hylopezus Myrmothera Melanopareiidae Melanopareia Pipridae Ceratopipra Chiroxiphia Chloropipo Corapipo Cryptopipo Heterocercus Ilicura Lepidothrix Machaeropterus Manacus Masius Neopelma Pipra Pseudopipra Tyranneutes Xenopipo Rhinocryptidae Acropternis Eleoscytalopus Eugralla Liosceles Merulaxis Myornis Psilorhamphus Pteroptochos Rhinocrypta Scelorchilus Scytalopus Teledromas Thamnophilidae Euchrepomidinae Euchrepomis Myrmornithinae Myrmornis Pygiptila Thamnistes Thamnophilinae Formicivorini Formicivora Myrmochanes Myrmotherula Terenura Microrhopiini Ammonastes Aprositornis Clytoctantes Epinecrophylla Microrhopias Myrmophylax Myrmorchilus Neoctantes Pithyini Cercomacra Cercomacroides Drymophila Gymnopithys Hypocnemis Oneillornis Phaenostictus Phlegopsis Pithys Rhegmatorhina Sciaphylax Willisornis Pyriglenini Akletos Ampelornis Gymnocichla Hafferia Hylophylax Hypocnemoides Myrmeciza Myrmelastes Myrmoborus Myrmoderus Percnostola Poliocrania Pyriglena Rhopornis Sclateria Sipia Thamnophilini Batara Biatas Cymbilaimus Dichrozona Dysithamnus Frederickena Herpsilochmus Hypoedaleus Isleria Mackenziaena Megastictus Radinopsyche Rhopias Sakesphoroides Sakesphorus Taraba Thamnomanes Thamnophilus Xenornis Tityridae Iodopleura Laniisoma Laniocera Myiobius Onychorhynchus Oxyruncus Pachyramphus Schiffornis Terenotriccus Tityra Xenopsaris Tyrannidae Agriornis Alectrurus Anairetes Aphanotriccus Arundinicola Atalotriccus Attila Calyptura Camptostoma Capsiempis Casiornis Cnemarchus Cnemotriccus Cnipodectes Colonia Colorhamphus Conopias Contopus Corythopis Culicivora Elaenia Empidonax Empidonomus Euscarthmus Fluvicola Griseotyrannus Gubernetes Guyramemua Hemitriccus Heteroxolmis Hirundinea Hymenops Inezia Knipolegus Lathrotriccus Legatus Lessonia Leptopogon Lophotriccus Machetornis Mecocerculus Megarynchus Mionectes Mitrephanes Muscigralla Muscipipra Muscisaxicola Myiarchus Myiodynastes Myiopagis Myiophobus Myiornis Myiotheretes Myiotriccus Myiozetetes Nengetus Neopipo Neoxolmis Nephelomyias Nesotriccus Ochthoeca Ochthornis Oncostoma Ornithion Phelpsia Philohydor Phyllomyias Phylloscartes Piprites Pitangus Platyrinchus Poecilotriccus Pogonotriccus Polystictus Pseudelaenia Pseudocolopteryx Pseudotriccus Pyrocephalus Pyrope Pyrrhomyias Ramphotrigon Rhynchocyclus Rhytipterna Satrapa Sayornis Serpophaga Silvicultrix Sirystes Stigmatura Sublegatus Suiriri Syrtidicola Tachuris Taeniotriccus Todirostrum Tolmomyias Tumbezia Tyrannopsis Tyrannulus Tyrannus Uromyias Xenotriccus Xolmis Zimmerius
Passeri †Resoviaornis Acanthizidae Acanthiza Acanthornis Aethomyias Aphelocephala Calamanthus Gerygone Hylacola Neosericornis Oreoscopus Origma Pachycare Pycnoptilus Pyrrholaemus Sericornis Smicrornis Atrichornithidae Atrichornis Callaeidae Callaeas †Heteralocha Philesturnus Climacteridae Climacteris Cormobates Cnemophilidae Cnemophilus Loboparadisea Dasyornithidae Dasyornis Maluridae Amytornithinae Amytornis Malurinae Malurini Chenorhamphus Clytomyias Malurus Sipodotus Stipiturini Stipiturus Melanocharitidae Melanocharis Oedistoma Rhamphocharis Toxorhamphus Meliphagidae Acanthagenys Acanthorhynchus Anthochaera Anthornis Ashbyia Bolemoreus Caligavis Certhionyx Cissomela Conopophila Entomyzon Epthianura Foulehaio Gavicalis Gliciphila Glycichaera Glycifohia Grantiella Guadalcanaria Gymnomyza Lichenostomus Lichmera Macgregoria Manorina Meliarchus Melidectes Melilestes Melionyx Meliphacator Meliphaga Melipotes Melithreptus Melitograis Microptilotis Myza Myzomela Nesoptilotis Oreornis Plectorhyncha Philemon Phylidonyris Ptiloprora Ptilotula Prosthemadera Purnella Pycnopygius Ramsayornis Stomiopera Stresemannia Sugomel Territornis Timeliopsis Trichodere Vosea Xanthotis Menuridae Menura Notiomystidae Notiomystis Orthonychidae Orthonyx †Palaeoscinidae Palaeoscinis Pardalotidae Pardalotus Pomatostomidae Garritornis Pomatostomus Ptilonorhynchidae Ailuroedus Amblyornis Archboldia Chlamydera Prionodura Ptilonorhynchus Scenopoeetes †Sericuloides Sericulus Corvides See Corvides Passerida See Passerida

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Dendrocolaptinae
• Birds of Argentina
• Birds of Paraguay
• Birds of Uruguay
• Birds described in 1849
• Taxa named by Thomas Campbell Eyton