Black-banded Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes picumnus)

Identification & Behavior: ~29 cm (11.4 in). The Black-banded Woodcreeper has buff streaks on the head mantle throat and breast. The streaks on the breast turn into dusky barring on the belly and rest of the underparts. The bill is straight dusky or bluish gray in color. It forages in the understory of the forest in Amazonia where it often associates with army ant swarms. It often forages along side with the similar Amazonian Barred-Woodcreeper at the same ant swarm but is distinguished by having a streaked head, mantle and breast, and grayish bill. The combination of streaks and barring on the underparts is distinctive among woodcreepers.

Status: The Black-banded Woodcreeper is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1400 m along the east slope of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Trepador de Vientre Bandeado.

Sub-species: Black-banded Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes picumnus validus), Tschudi, 1844.

Meaning of Name: Dendrocolaptes: Gr. Dendron= tree and kolapto= to peck. Dendrokolaptes= woodpecker. picumnus: L. picus= woodpecker, picumnus= little woodpecker.

See more of the Family Furnariidae