FAMILY DENDROCOLAPTIDAE 3 



The manner of life of those found in Panama is remarkable for 

 its uniformity among the varied kinds as they clamber over the 

 trunks of trees. Details of life history of most of the species are 

 little known. It is interesting to note that though members of the 

 family range on the mainland of Panama from the tropical lowlands 

 to the higher forests of the mountains, none are found on the off- 

 shore islands. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF DENDROCOLAPTIDAE 



1. Bill two times or more length of head, slender throughout, strongly sickle- 



shaped 2 



Bill short, slightly, if at all, longer than head, straight, or very slightly 

 decurved at tip 3 



2. Bill reddish brown ; body color lighter, more reddish brown. 



Red-billed scythebill, Campylorhaiiiphus trochilirostris brcvipcnnis, p. 50 

 Bill dusky or horn brown ; body color darker, more olive-brown. 



Brown-billed scythebill, Cainpylorhaiitphns pusillus, p. 53 



3. Largest of the family in Panama ; length 285-330 mm, bill strong, 47-55 mm 



long ; body robust, feet large. 



Strong-billed woodcreeper, Xiplwcolaptes prouicropirhynchus, p. 23 



Smaller, to very small ; length less than 280 mm, with bill weaker, less than 



45 mm, in most much less 4 



4. Under surface buff to buffy white, barred very narrowly with black. ... 5 

 Under surface plain, spotted, or streaked, never barred extensively.... 6 



5. Crown and hindneck barred narrowly with black, like the under side of the 



body Barred woodcreeper, Dcndrocolaptcs ccrthia. p. 25 



Crown and hindneck streaked narrowly with buff to buffy white. 



Black-banded woodcreeper, Dendrocolaptes picttiiinus. p. 30 



6. Foreneck and breast plain, without definite spots or streaks 7 



Foreneck and breast definitely spotted or streaked 9 



7. Small, wing less than 85 mm ; under surface from chin to abdomen gray or 



greenish gray. .. .Olivaceous woodcreeper, Sittasonnis griscicapillus. p. 16 



Larger, wing more than 95 mm, breast and abdomen brown to grayish 



brown 8 



8. Distinctly brown, throat cinnamon-brown, crown reddish brown. 



Ruddy woodcreeper, Dcndrocincla homochroa, p. 9 

 Grayish brown, chin gray, crown grayish brown. 



Brown woodcreeper, Dcndrocincla fuliginosa ridgzvayi, p. 4 



9. Crown and hindneck plain ; or if lined or spotted, the markings faint and 



small, not prominent 10 



Crown and hindneck heavily spotted or lined with buff to buffy white. . 13 



10. Chin and throat plain ; foreneck sparsely and finely spotted ; wing coverts 



dull brown like back, secondaries rufous-brown. 



Tawny-winged woodcreeper, Dcndrocincla anabatina safurata, p. 7 

 Chin, throat, and upper breast distinctly spotted or streaked 11 



11. Smaller, wing not more than 100 mm; under surface dull brown to olive- 



brown, foreneck and breast indistinctly streaked with buff 12 



