The wedge-billed woodcreeper is a sub-oscine passerine bird in subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Central America and Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Central America into northern and western South America, including much of the Amazon Basin and the Guianas. It favors mature humid lowland and foothill rainforest, both terra firme and seasonally flooded forest, and also uses older secondary forests and forest edges. Common along forested streams, vine tangles, and in dense understory where it forages on trunks and large lianas. Frequently participates in mixed-species understory flocks and occasionally follows army-ant swarms. It is generally absent from open landscapes and highly degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The wedge-billed woodcreeper is the smallest woodcreeper and is easily recognized by its short, triangular, wedge-shaped bill. That bill is adapted for prying insects from bark crevices, vine tangles, and dead leaf clusters. It often joins mixed-species flocks and will opportunistically attend army-ant swarms to catch flushed prey. Though tolerant of some secondary growth, it declines with heavy forest fragmentation.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive, active in dense understory
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between trunks and vine tangles
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, frequently joining mixed-species flocks moving through the understory. Territorial around nest sites, which are in natural cavities, rotting stubs, or occasionally in arboreal termitaria. Both adults likely share nesting duties and provisioning of young. Not an obligate ant-follower, but will attend army-ant swarms opportunistically.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, high-pitched series of clear whistles, often slightly descending and evenly spaced. Calls include sharp, high tseet notes and soft trills given while foraging. Vocalizations carry surprisingly well through dense forest.
Plumage
Overall warm brown to olive-brown with slightly paler throat and diffuse buffy facial streaking; wings and tail often richer rufous. Plumage is plain compared to most woodcreepers, with fine scaling or mottling minimal and confined to the head and throat.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small arthropods such as ants, beetles, spiders, and larvae. Gleans and probes from bark, moss, epiphytes, and clusters of dead leaves, often prying with its wedge-shaped bill. Captures prey flushed by mixed-species flocks or army ants, and occasionally sallies short distances to snatch insects.
Preferred Environment
Forages on trunks, saplings, and large lianas from near the ground to the midstory in humid forest. Especially favors dense vine tangles, fallen logs, and shaded edges within intact forest. Will use mature secondary growth when structural complexity is high.
