WOODCREEPERS - In Belize

Wedge Billed Woodcreeper

Wedge Billed Woodcreeper

Wedge Billed Woodcreeper - Very small woodcreeper of evergreen forest in humid tropical lowlands and foothills. Creeps up trunks, often in spirals, picking at the bark for food, then flies low to another tree before hitching upwards again. Forages on fairly large trunks as well as slender trees. Often travels with mixed-species feeding flocks. Note the short, wedge-shaped bill and pale buffy breast spotting.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels to sub-canopy within primary and secondary broadleaf forest and forest edge.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Fairly common resident on mainland north to north Cayo and south Belize; also in west Orange Walk and locally in central Orange Walk.

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Olivaceous Woodcreeper - A small, unstreaked woodcreeper of tropical and subtropical humid forest. Fairly common but unobtrusive. Moves quickly up trunks, often flying to low on the next tree and circling up again. Distinguished from other woodcreepers by small size, small slender bill, and plain gray head and underparts (no pale streaks or spots).
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels within primary and secondary broadleaf and pine forest and forest edge.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Fairly common resident on mainland.

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Ruddy Woodcreeper

Ruddy Woodcreeper

Ruddy Woodcreeper - Uncommon, medium-sized woodcreeper of humid tropical forest; rarely seen away from army ant swarms. Found singly or in twos and threes, often with Tawny-winged and Northern Barred Woodcreepers at army ant swarms. Mainly perches upright on slender trunks fairly low to the ground, less often at middle levels; often rather sluggish. Overall bright ruddy plumage in combination with behavior is distinctive; also note the pale grayish eyering. Usually rather quiet; at times gives plaintive mew calls and a chipping rattled song.
BELIZE HABITAT - Similar to habitat for Tawny-winged.  Also frequents army ant swarms.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Uncommon to locally fairly common resident on mainland.

Tawny Winged Woodcreeper

Tawny Winged Woodcreeper

Tawny Winged Woodcreeper - Fairly common, but easily overlooked, medium-sized woodcreeper of humid tropical forest; infrequently seen away from ant swarms. Found singly or in small groups, often with Ruddy and Northern Barred Woodcreepers at army ant swarms. Mainly perches upright on slender trunks fairly low to the ground, less often at middle levels; often rather sluggish. Combination of face pattern, contrasting rusty wings, and behavior is distinctive. Usually rather quiet; at times gives plaintive mew calls and a prolonged chipping rattled song.
BELIZE HABITAT - Under-story to sub-canopy within primary and secondary broadleaf forest, forest edge, and high scrub.  Frequents army ant swarms.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Fairly common resident on mainland.

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Streak Headed Woodcreeper

Streak Headed Woodcreeper

Streak Headed Woodcreeper - Medium-size, fairly common woodcreeper of tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge, open woodland, hedges with tall trees. Feeds on trunks and larger branches, often spiraling up one trunk and flying low to the next tree. Note the relatively slender and slightly decurved bill, distinct but fine pale streaking on the head and back. Easily confused with larger Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, which is more of a forest bird and has a bigger and straighter bill.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels to sub-canopy within broad-leaf and pine forest and forest edge.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Uncommon to locally fairly common resident on mainland north to north central Orange Walk and north Belize.

Ivory Billed Woodcreeper

Ivory Billed Woodcreeper

Ivory Billed Woodcreeper - Rather large, fairly common woodcreeper of tropical forest in both dry and humid areas. Feeds mainly on larger trunks, often probing into bromeliads and moving methodically. Note the long stout bill, which is mostly pale (but not really ivory colored), and the bold streaking on the head, back, and underparts. Streak-headed Woodcreeper is smaller and more active, with a slender, slightly decurved bill, very different voice.
BELIZE HABITAT - Most forested areas and forest edge, including pines; mid-levels to sub-canopy.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Fairly common to common resident on mainland.

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Strong Billed Woodcreeper

Strong Billed Woodcreeper

Strong Billed Woodcreeper - Very large woodcreeper of pine-oak and evergreen forest in highlands and foothills; also occurs locally in lowlands. Forages mainly at middle to upper levels on large trunks and branches, often at big bromeliads; frequently travels with mixed-species feeding flocks that include jays and orioles. Inconspicuous, despite its large size. Note very large size, long and very stout grayish bill, and fine pale streaks limited to the head and breast.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels to sub-canopy within broadleaf forest interior and clearings.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Local to uncommon resident discontinuously in west Orange Walk, perhaps locally along New River in east Orange Walk, and from south west Cayo to west Toledo.

Spotted Woodcreeper

Spotted Woodcreeper

Spotted Woodcreeper - Medium to large woodcreeper of humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forest in highlands and foothills. Feeds at all levels on trunks and larger branches, often at bromeliads. Straightish and rather stout bill is dark above and pale below. Note the pale buff spectacles and distinct pale spotting and scalloping on head, breast, and back (populations south of western Honduras lack spotting on back.)
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels to sub-canopy within broadleaf forest interior.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Fairly common resident in Maya Mountains above 2,300 feet.

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Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Northern Barred Woodcreeper - Uncommon, rather large woodcreeper of humid tropical forest; infrequently seen away from ant swarms. Found singly or in twos and threes, often with Tawny-winged and Ruddy Woodcreepers at army ant swarms. Perches upright on trunks at all levels; often rather sluggish. Often looks dark and plain overall, with dark mask and pale base to stout bill. Dark barring on head and body visible with good views. Loud whistled song given mainly around dawn, a whistled “too’ih tooh’ih.”
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels to sub-canopy within broadleaf and pine forest interior; occasionally forest edge.
Where can I find this bird in Belize?
Uncommon to fairly common resident on mainland.