Spot-throated woodcreeper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spot-throated woodcreeper |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Certhiasomus
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| Species: |
stictolaemus
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| Synonyms | |
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Deconychura stictolaema |
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The spot-throated woodcreeper (scientific name: Certhiasomus stictolaemus) is a type of bird. It belongs to the ovenbird family called Furnariidae. You can find this bird in several South American countries. These include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. It might also live in Suriname.
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About the Spot-throated Woodcreeper
Scientists group animals based on how they are related. The spot-throated woodcreeper used to be in a group called Deconychura. But scientists found out it's not closely related to the other bird in that group, the long-tailed woodcreeper.
Now, the spot-throated woodcreeper is the only member of its own special group, called Certhiasomus. There are three slightly different types, or subspecies, of this bird:
- C. s. secundus
- C. s. clarior
- C. s. stictolaemus
Sometimes, C. s. secundus has been thought of as its own separate species.
What Does It Look Like?
The spot-throated woodcreeper is a slim bird with a long tail. It has a short, thin beak. It is about 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 in) long. Males usually weigh between 14 to 22 grams (0.5 to 0.8 oz). Females are a bit lighter, weighing 13 to 17 grams (0.46 to 0.60 oz). Both male and female birds look very similar.
The most common type, C. s. stictolaemus, is mostly olive-brown on its upper body. It has light streaks on its head and neck. Its lower back and upper tail feathers are a more reddish-brown color. Its flight feathers are dark brown, with some reddish tips. The tail is a deep reddish-brown.
This bird has light areas near its eyes and above them, but they are hard to see. Its throat is a dull, light brown with darker spots. These spots become wedge-shaped on its chest. The bird's eyes are dark brown. Its beak is dark brown with a shiny lower part. Its legs and feet are grayish-blue to brownish-gray.
Other types of the bird have slight differences. For example, C. s. secundus is a little bigger and more reddish. C. s. clarior is paler but also more reddish.
Where Does It Live?
The spot-throated woodcreeper lives in the Amazon Basin. This is a large area around the Amazon River in South America. Each of the three subspecies lives in a different part of this region:
- C. s. secundus lives in the western Amazon. This includes southern Colombia, southern Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, northeastern Peru, and northwestern Brazil.
- C. s. clarior lives in the northeastern Amazon. This area is north of the Amazon River in Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana.
- C. s. stictolaemus lives in the southern Amazon in Brazil. This is south of the Amazon River.
This bird prefers humid forests that have not been disturbed by people. It sometimes lives at the edges of forests or in older secondary forests. It can be found in both floodplain forests and forests on higher ground. It also lives in blackwater forests and those with sandy soil. It lives from near sea level up to about 500 meters (1,600 ft) high.
Behavior and Life Cycle
Movement
The spot-throated woodcreeper stays in the same area all year round. It does not migrate.
Feeding
This bird almost always looks for food with other bird species. It usually joins a mixed-species feeding flock by itself. It climbs up tree trunks, often close to the ground, but sometimes as high as 10 meters (33 ft). It eats small arthropods, like insects and spiders. It picks them off the tree bark or catches them in short flights from the tree.
Reproduction
Scientists do not know much about how the spot-throated woodcreeper reproduces. It seems to breed at different times of the year depending on the location. However, it is known to breed at least from December to April.
Vocalization
The song of the spot-throated woodcreeper is a "high, short, staccato rattle." It starts slightly rising and then fades away. It also makes an alarm call that sounds like "sip! sip-ip-ip."
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the spot-throated woodcreeper as a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. It lives across a very large area. However, its exact population size is unknown, and scientists believe the number of birds is decreasing. No immediate threats have been found for this species. It is thought to be fairly common, but because it is hard to spot, its numbers might be underestimated. The bird seems to be very sensitive to changes or disturbances in its forest home.
