Northern Plain-Xenops
NameNorthern Plain-Xenops
Common NameNorthern Plain-Xenops
Scientific NameXenops minutus
FamilyFurnariidae
Wingspan (cm)18
Length (cm)12
Weight (g)12
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are rufous-brown, becoming brighter rufous on the rump and tail. Underparts are duller brown. It features a prominent white supercilium and a white malar stripe, contrasting with a dark eyestripe. The bill is dark, slender, and distinctly wedge-shaped and slightly upturned.
Vocalization / CallIts song is a rapid, high-pitched trill, often described as 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee'. It also gives sharp 'chip' calls.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread in humid lowland forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico south to northern and eastern South America, including parts of Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Identifying FeaturesWedge-shaped, slightly upturned bill, Prominent white supercilium and malar stripe, Overall rufous-brown plumage, Foraging behavior on bark
Description
A small, active forest bird with a distinctive wedge-shaped bill, known for its unique foraging style. It gleans insects from bark and dead wood, often moving head-first up and down tree trunks. Its plumage is predominantly rufous-brown with striking facial stripes.
