Head to head
Plain-Brown Woodcreeper vs Wedge-Billed Woodcreeper
The plain-brown woodcreeper and wedge-billed woodcreeper are both bark-climbing insectivores of Neotropical forest, but they occupy quite different ecological niches within the same family.
| Plain-Brown Woodcreeper | Wedge-Billed Woodcreeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dendrocincla fuliginosa | Glyphorynchus spirurus |
| Relative size | Larger | Smallest woodcreeper species |
| Bill shape | Longer, more typical woodcreeper bill | Short, straight, wedge-shaped |
| Relationship with army ants | Dominant, regular follower | Not a dedicated ant follower |
| Preferred foraging location | Tree trunks | Thinner canopy branches and twigs |
| Abundance | Widespread | Among the most abundant birds in its range |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Habitat | Rainforest | Rainforest |
Plain-Brown Woodcreeper vs Wedge-Billed Woodcreeper: common questions
Which woodcreeper is smaller, the plain-brown or the wedge-billed?
The wedge-billed woodcreeper is smaller, being the smallest member of the entire woodcreeper family, while the plain-brown woodcreeper is a larger species better known for its dominant standing at army ant swarms rather than its size.
Do both woodcreepers follow army ant swarms?
Not to the same degree, since the plain-brown woodcreeper is considered one of the most dominant woodcreeper species at army ant swarms, typically claiming the best feeding positions, while the wedge-billed woodcreeper is not considered a dedicated ant follower in the same way.
Why does the wedge-billed woodcreeper have such a different bill?
This species has a short, straight, wedge-shaped bill well suited to gleaning smaller prey from thinner branches and twigs, quite different from the plain-brown woodcreeper's more typical elongated bill, which is better suited to probing bark crevices on thick tree trunks.