Lesser Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus fuscus Lepidocolaptes fuscus

Lesser Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus fuscus
(aka Lepidocolaptes fuscus)

Brazilian name: Arapaçu-rajado

Brazil

The Lesser Woodcreeper is distributed in eastern Brazil from Ceará to Rio Grande do Sul and adjacent areas of south-east Paraguay and north-east Argentina. It is found in a variety of forest types.

There are four subspecies three of which are shown here in sequence from south to north.

Photo 1, taken at Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, shows the nominate subspecies with its yellowish-buff supercilium and its unmarked creamy-white throat and an upper belly marked with elongated streaks. The nape is also streaked and this extends to the upper back. The bill is dark above and pinkish white below.

Photos 2, taken at Camacan, Bahia and 3 and 4, taken at Boa Nova, Bahia show the subspecies X. f. tenuirostris which is larger and has weaker brown edging to the buff spots below.

Lesser Woodcreeper, Boa Nova, Bahia, Brazil, October 2008 - click for larger image

Photos 5, taken at Tamandaré, Pernambuco, and 6, taken at Serra de Baturité, Ceará, show the subspecies X. f. atlanticus with a much darker throat and weaker looking streaks below. The voice is also different from the other subspecies and it may well be split as a separate species in the future.

There are recordings on xeno-canto, a distribution map from NatureServe and additional information available via Avibase. There is a page in Portuguese on Wikiaves.

Lesser Woodcreeper, Tamandaré, Pernambuco, Brazil, October 2008 - click for larger image

Lesser Woodcreeper, Serra de baturité, Ceará, Brazil, October 2008 - click for larger image

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