Sharp-billed Treehunter

Overview

The sharp-billed treehunter (Heliobletus contaminatus), also known as the sharp-billed xenops, is a species of bird in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is the sole member of the genus Heliobletus and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Small bird measuring 12 to 13 cm in length with a short, pointed, and slightly downturned bill.
• Adults feature a wide golden-buff supercilium, a blackish-brown band behind the eye, and a dull olive-brown back with rufous tips on the coverts.
• The breast is a paler yellowish buff with dull olive-brown streaks, while the tail is dark rufous.
• Song is described as a short, harsh, metallic slow trill on one pitch, sometimes interspersed with squeaky notes or tinkling overtones.

Habitat

Found in humid lowland and montane evergreen forest across parts of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The species ranges in elevation from sea level to 1,830 m, with the nominate subspecies tending to be more numerous at higher elevations.

Diet

Feeds on arthropods, foraging singly and in pairs or as part of mixed-species flocks in the mid-storey to canopy. It climbs and hangs acrobatically to glean, pull, and peck for prey from branches, foliage, and epiphytes.

Did you know?

The tail feathers of this bird are unique in that the very end of the feathers has no barbs.