Brown-billed Scythebill
Campylorhamphus pusillus
The Brown-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus pusillus) is a rare ovenbirds and woodcreeper found in 5 countries, weighing about 41 g. The brown-billed scythebill is a species of bird in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae.
About the Brown-billed Scythebill
The brown-billed scythebill is a species of bird in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The brown-billed scythebill is 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 32 to 48 g (1.1 to 1.7 oz). It is a slim, medium-sized woodcreeper with a very long, slim, dramatically decurved bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a face and neck streaked buff and blackish brown, with a faint buffy supercilium. Their crown and nape are dark brown, with thin deep buff streaks that extend sparsely onto the upper back. Their back and wing coverts are deep reddish brown, their rump is cinnamon-rufous, and their wings and tail are rufous-chestnut. Voice: The brown-billed scythebill sings mostly at dawn and dusk. Its song is complex and highly variable, a "series of notes lasting 2·5–5 seconds, beginning with a soft, twittering trill that continues in background during a series of loud whistles that are usually descending (sometimes ascending) and somewhat quavering, e.g.
What the Brown-billed Scythebill sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Brown-billed Scythebill can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Brown-billed Scythebill?
- The brown-billed scythebill is 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 32 to 48 g (1.1 to 1.7 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Brown-billed Scythebill?
- The Brown-billed Scythebill is a small sized bird weighing about 41 g.
- Where can you see a Brown-billed Scythebill?
- The Brown-billed Scythebill occurs in 5 countries, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru.
- What does a Brown-billed Scythebill sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Brown-billed Scythebill on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Brown-billed Scythebill?
- The Brown-billed Scythebill is most easily confused with the Black-billed Scythebill, the Curve-billed Scythebill and the Tapajos Scythebill.
- Is the Brown-billed Scythebill endangered?
- The Brown-billed Scythebill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Brown-billed Scythebill for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.