white throat; scalloped below; decurved bill (south Brazil; 2007-11-09)


Scalloped Woodcreeper
Dendrocolaptes squamatus

Native Range: South America

Notes: about 50 similar-looking species comprise this taxonomic family (Dendrocolaptidae) of streaked-brown arboreal birds of Neotropical forests; most of the species forage by climbing tree trunks and major limbs, using their stiff tail feather like a prop or ratchet; they probe on and under the bark for goodies, and thus are ecologically and behaviorally similar to creepers (Certhiidae) of North America and Europe, even if not closely related.


pale eye-stripe; brown back; strong toes (south Brazil; 2007-11-09)
rufous on tail; speckled on head; stiff tail (south Brazil; 2007-11-09)