Zimmer's woodcreeper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zimmer's woodcreeper |
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| at Iranduba, Amazonas state, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dendroplex
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| Species: |
kienerii
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| Synonyms | |
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Xiphorhynchus kienerii |
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The Zimmer's woodcreeper (Dendroplex kienerii) is a special type of bird. It is a Near Threatened species, which means it needs protection. This bird is part of the ovenbird family called Furnariidae. You can find it living in the countries of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
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Meet the Zimmer's Woodcreeper
Zimmer's woodcreeper is a medium-sized bird. It is about 21 to 24 centimeters (8 to 9 inches) long. It weighs around 40 to 50 grams (1.4 to 1.8 ounces). This bird has a slim body and a short beak. Its beak curves gently downwards to a sharp tip. Both male and female woodcreepers look alike.
What Does It Look Like?
Adult woodcreepers have whitish feathers around their eyes and above them. Their face is streaked with black and white. The top of their head is grayish-brown with light, buffy spots. Their neck is lighter and browner with fuzzy streaks.
Their back and wing feathers are dark brown to reddish-brown. They have narrow streaks only on their upper back. The lower part of their back, called the rump, is a light reddish-brown. Their flight feathers and tail are a darker reddish-brown. The tips of their flight feathers are dusky black.
Their throat is whitish with a hint of buff color. The sides of their throat have thin, dusky streaks. Their chest is cinnamon-brown with buff-colored streaks shaped like triangles. These streaks have blackish edges. The streaks fade away towards their reddish belly. The feathers under their tail are reddish with wide, buffy streaks. The feathers under their wings are light yellowish-buff.
Eyes, Beak, and Legs
The bird's eyes are light brown to dark grayish-brown. They are surrounded by a mustard-yellow ring. Its beak is grayish-horn to whitish. The base of the upper part of its beak is dusky. Its legs and feet are bluish-gray to dull brownish-gray.
Young Woodcreepers
Young woodcreepers look similar to the adults. However, they are generally duller in color. Their spots and streaks are not as clear. Their beak is blackish.
Where Do Zimmer's Woodcreepers Live?
Zimmer's woodcreeper lives along the Amazon River. You can find them in southeastern Colombia and northeastern Peru. They also live in Brazil, reaching almost to the mouth of the Rio Tapajós. They are also found along big rivers that flow into the Amazon, both to the north and as far south as Rondônia.
Their Home
These birds almost always live in forests that flood during certain seasons. These are called várzea and igapó forests. They also live on islands in the rivers. They prefer to stay deep inside the forest. But you can also see them at the edges of the forest. They sometimes live in older secondary forest, which is forest that has grown back after being cut down. They usually live at elevations up to about 200 meters (660 feet). In Colombia, they can be found up to 400 meters (1,300 feet) high.
Zimmer's Woodcreeper Behavior
Movement
Scientists believe that Zimmer's woodcreeper stays in the same area all year round. It does not migrate.
Feeding Habits
We don't know much about what Zimmer's woodcreeper eats. But it is thought to mostly eat arthropods, which are creatures like insects and spiders. This bird usually looks for food by itself. On islands, it often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. These are groups of different bird species feeding together.
The woodcreeper climbs up tree trunks and branches. It usually searches for food in the middle and lower parts of the forest canopy. Sometimes it goes all the way to the top. It probably finds most of its food by picking it off the bark or out of cracks. It has been seen pecking at rotting wood and at the tunnels made by termites in trees.
Reproduction
The breeding season for Zimmer's woodcreeper includes April. However, almost nothing else is known about how they raise their young.
Vocalization
Zimmer's woodcreeper sings throughout the day. Its song is a fast series of high-pitched notes. It sounds like "tr’r’r’r’r’r’r’r’r’r’r." Some describe it as a very high, fast, almost level series of "i" notes.
Status and Protection
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) first said Zimmer's woodcreeper was of "Least Concern." This meant it was not in danger. But since 2012, they have changed its status to "Near Threatened." This means it is close to becoming endangered.
The bird lives in a somewhat small area. We don't know exactly how many there are, but their numbers are believed to be going down. The biggest threat to this bird is the fast rate of deforestation in the Amazon basin. This is when forests are cut down.
The bird is fairly common in the central part of its range. It is less common in the upper parts of the rivers where the flooded areas are narrower. Because island forests naturally change over time, this bird might be less affected by human activity than other woodcreepers. This is true as long as there are still tall forests available for them.
