Woodcreeper, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, August 2023 (1 Viewer)

[njlarsen]

I am not really sure about this bird, Strong-billed or Cocoa or something I overlook? and why?
I have more images but don't think these show a fundamentally different angle.

thanks
Niels

 

[THE_FERN]

I think cocoa. Strong billed has a black decurved bill which is longer than this. It also has a more marked facial pattern with (usually) dark facial streaks. Compare with this:

ML204876671 Strong-billed Woodcreeper (Andean/Northern) Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML204876671; © Phillip Edwards; Magdalena, Colombia

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[KC Foggin]

Having never seen either I couldn't tell you but I can tell you they are great pics.

 

[AveryBartels]

Do you have any pics that show the underparts better?

 

[njlarsen]

Unfortunately not. I did not get any photos of it sitting differently or flying off.

I should have added that this was within the El Dorado Lodge area, which does to some extent limit the elevations.
Niels

 

[AveryBartels]

Bill shape and indistinct facial markings/buffy tones in face would seem best for Black-banded but there doesn't seem to be any hint of dark banding in the tiny bit of undertail coverts and adjacent feathering. An interesting bird, potentially an immature plumage that is not well/widely known?

 

[njlarsen]

So what do I do next? is there a specialist who could confirm or deny the idea of an immature plumage?

Niels

 

[AveryBartels]

So what do I do next? is there a specialist who could confirm or deny the idea of an immature plumage?

Niels

Do you ebird? If so, and the photos are uploaded into the checklist I could share with my fellow Colombia eBird reviewers.

 

[THE_FERN]

Do you ebird? If so, and the photos are uploaded into the checklist I could share with my fellow Colombia eBird reviewers.

Or just circulate a link to this...

 

[njlarsen]

Do you ebird? If so, and the photos are uploaded into the checklist I could share with my fellow Colombia eBird reviewers.

these images are now available in this checklist:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S147998298

They are with the species designation Woodcreeper sp.

Let me know if you can see them. I get a lot of "Restricted access" on ebird at the moment. According to information from Cornell, this is a known error but it might take a little time to resolve.

Niels

 

[AveryBartels]

Hi Niels, I've got feedback from 3 other reviewers who all also suggested Black-banded based on the shape of the bill and face pattern. Presumably, this individual just has reduced barring on the lower flanks.

 

[njlarsen]

Thanks Avery,
looking at images online, it seems there is strong regional variation in bill size and shape of both this species and Cocoa W. The good thing was that I found an image taken in Magdalena region, Colombia, which seems very close to my image.

ML47214581 Black-banded Woodcreeper Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML47214581; © Joan and/or George Sims; Magdalena, Colombia

macaulaylibrary.org

Niels