Point-tailed Palmcreeper

About the Point-tailed Palmcreeper

The point-tailed palmcreeper or simply palmcreeper (Berlepschia rikeri) is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

The point-tailed palmcreeper is the only member of its genus and has no subspecies. Robert Ridgway initially placed it in genus Picolaptes and later created its current genus. With it Ridgway honors the ornithologist Hans von Berlepsch, who pointed out to him the significant differences of the species with the others of genus Picolaptes. The specific epithet rikeri honors C.B. Riker, who collected the type specimen that Ridgway used to describe the species.

Ridway says of the point-tailed palmcreeper, "This handsome species, of very striking appearance, is entirely different in coloration from any Dendrocolaptine bird with which I am acquainted". The point-tailed palmcreeper is 18 to 22 cm (7.1 to 8.7 in) long and weighs 32 to 37 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults have a face with thin black and white streaks. Its crown and upper back are also streaked black and white... Wikipedia →