A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica – Reflections of the Natural World
One Moment in Nature is a reflection back in time to a moment of discovery as I explored the natural settings around me. Through the sharing of this moment, is my hope that readers will become motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation. One Moment in Nature is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
THE MOMENT
We had just finished our morning birding walk with Eagle-eye Tours Costa Rica Sampler trip leaders Ernest Carman and Paz Irola when I noticed a bird flash by and land on the trunk of a nearby tree. I carefully scooted around going slightly off the side of the road to get a better look. I noticed some type of woodcreeper clinging motionless to the side of the trunk.
I snapped a couple of quick photos when I saw a second bird fly in slightly above the first one.
I quickly deduced that the first bird, very rough with uneven and spiky feathers to be a young bird. The second bird, with much cleaner plumage quickly hopped over and down towards the young one.
A quick exchange of food, bill-to-bill, and then the adult hopped up and then flew away. In total, probably no more than 30 seconds from beginning to end, but what a fun moment to witness.
PHOTO GALLERY
ABOUT THE SPECIES
Distribution and Abundance: Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) is an arboreal furnariid found in Central America and northern South America, from southern Mexico south to northwestern Peru and northernmost Brazil. The species occupies a variety of forest and scrub types below 1000 meters in elevation.
Conservation Status: Streak-headed Woodcreeper has a very large geographic range, and its population trend is believed to be stable. Consequently its IUCN Red List conservation status is evaluated as Least Concern (BirdLife International 2015). This species is common throughout most of its range, although it is less common at higher elevation levels (Marantz et al. 2003).
ABOUT THE AREA
The Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica is part of the Arenal Conservation Area, which includes premontane humid forest, premontane rainforest, and lower montane rainforest. The park’s rainforests are home to a large number of plants and animals, including orchids, ferns, palms, and over 350 species of birds.
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