Dendrocincla anabatina
The Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Dendrocincla anabatina, is a charismatic passerine bird belonging to the family Dendrocolaptidae, the true woodcreepers. Measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7-7.5 inches) in length and weighing 28-36 grams, this species is characterized by its generally olive-brown to rufescent-brown plumage. A distinctive field mark, and the source of its common name, is the rich tawny-rufous coloration on the inner webs of its flight feathers, strikingly visible when the bird spr...
Found primarily in humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, including forest borders and mature secondary growth. It inhabits mostly lowland areas, typically up to 900-1200 meters (3,000-4,000 feet) in elevation.
Feeds predominantly on arthropods, including various insects (beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, larvae), spiders, and centipedes. Occasionally takes small vertebrates like lizards, primarily obtained by following army ant swarms or gleaning from tree bark.
This woodcreeper is a diurnal species, often observed alone or in pairs, tirelessly working its way up tree trunks and large branches. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and spiders from bark, crevices, and epiphytes, often spiraling upwards on trees in a characteristic woodc...
The Tawny-winged Woodcreeper boasts a wide distribution across Central America and into northwestern South America. Its breeding range extends from southern Mexico (southeastern Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco) south through the entire Caribbean slope of Central America, including Belize, ...
Least Concern
- The scientific epithet 'anabatina' is derived from Greek, meaning 'climbing,' a direct reference to its arboreal foraging habits. - It is one of the smaller woodcreepers found within its extensive Central American range. - The Tawny-winged Woodcreeper is a classic 'army ant follower,' specializ...