woodcreepers

Woodcreepers are a diverse group of Neotropical birds in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. They are primarily forest dwellers of Central and South America, with a few species reaching into parts of the northern tropics. They are closely associated with standing trunks and branches, foraging on vertical surfaces in a variety of forest habitats, including tropical and subtropical forests, secondary growth, and forest edges. The group was historically treated as its own family (Dendrocolaptidae) but is now placed within Furnariidae.

Physically, woodcreepers tend to be slender with long tails and elongated, pointed bills suited for probing bark and crevices. Plumage is often brown, rufous, or streaked, providing camouflage on tree surfaces. They typically cling to trunks and limbs and use their tails as a prop while they move upward or downward in search of prey.

In foraging, woodcreepers primarily search for insects and other invertebrates by creeping along trunks and branches, probing under bark, and extracting prey from crevices or termite nests. Most species forage solo or in pairs, but some participate in mixed-species foraging flocks, which can increase feeding opportunities and reduce competition.

Nesting usually involves cavities in dead wood or natural tree cavities; some species may use abandoned termitaria or other pre-existing holes. Clutch sizes are generally small, and eggs are usually pale or white. Incubation is often shared by both parents.

There are roughly 60 woodcreeper species distributed across several genera. While they are collectively adapted to a bark-foraging lifestyle, their specific ecologies and appearances vary widely. Habitat loss and fragmentation threaten several species, though many are common within suitable forest habitats.