Brazilian name: Bico-virado-miúdo

The Plain Xenops is found in a variety of forest and woodland habitats from Mexico into tropical South America to the southern limits of the Amazon Basin with a disjunct population in eastern Brazil.

It has a pale buff supercilium and a prominent white malar streak. Photo 1 shows the rufous rump and tail with black feathers (the 3rd and 4th retrices) showing in the tail and the rufous-tawny wing-band on the blackish wings.

It is unusual to see a Plain Xenops in a horizontal stance but I think this bird was close to its nest and was a bit concerned at our proximity. Photos 2 and 3 show different phases of a wing flashing display which might also have been territorial.

Like other xenops they behave a bit like piculets tapping at bark for insects and grubs and using holes in trees as nests.

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.