Dendrocincla tyrannina
The Tyrannine Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla tyrannina) is a medium-sized, neotropical passerine renowned for its often subdued yet distinctive appearance among its woodcreeper kin. Measuring approximately 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) in length and weighing around 30-40 grams, it exhibits an overall dusky brown plumage, with a contrasting rufous rump and tail that often catches the eye. A key field mark is the pale, often yellowish, streaking on its throat and upper breast, which stands out against its d...
Found primarily in humid montane and cloud forests, ranging from foothills to high elevations. It favors the mid-story and understory of mature and secondary growth forests.
Feeds predominantly on insects and other arthropods, including spiders, beetles, and orthopterans. Primary foraging method involves gleaning from substrates and sallying for flushed prey, particularly near army ant swarms.
The Tyrannine Woodcreeper is a diurnal species, active throughout the day as it forages. Its most remarkable behavior is its strong association with army ant swarms, where it follows the advancing ant front, snatching insects and other arthropods flushed by the ants. Beyond ant-following, it also...
The Tyrannine Woodcreeper is a resident species, with a distribution extending from the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, south through the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, reaching as far as central Bolivia and northern Venezuela. Its altitudinal range typically spans from around ...
Least Concern
- The Tyrannine Woodcreeper is considered one of the 'plainest' looking woodcreepers, lacking the bold patterns or intricate streaking of many of its relatives, yet its vocalizations are quite distinctive. - It is a highly specialized army ant follower, often seen in the mixed-species flocks that...