Black-billed Scythebill

24 cm. A very long black decurved sickle-shaped bill that almost forms a right-angle. Head and nape dark blackish grey with white streaks. Olive-brown above, the shoulders olive chestnut-brown. Wings and tail rusty chestnut. Throat white, unstreaked. Below light olive-brown with narrow white streaks on the chest. Song is characteristic, three descending sounds followed by an elevated whistle, "tchree-tchree-tchree-tchrii" or, "tchreet tchreet tchreet tchreet". Warning call is a sharp "pii" Sick | "spieh" . Scales trees at all heights. Secretive, often found in bamboo thickets. Investigates epiphytes. Uncommon, in humid primary and secondary dense forest and dense brush. Throughout, though not found in dry inland forests. Most regularly encountered 700-1700 meters. 8211 Song. Fazenda Intervales, 11<10>29<10>97. Sunny, 27<91>C. Primary forest.: 13467 Song. Cornell Cat 30142. Itatiaia National Park, Rio de Janeiro, 11<10>12<10>82. With /Pyriglena leucoptera, Anabazenops fuscus, Thamnophilus caerulescens . Recording by T. A. Parker, III.: 4666 Calls of several individuals. Fazenda Intervales, Barra Grande road. 10<10>25<10>00. Cloudy, 20<91>C. Primary forest . With /Scytalopus indigoticus, Carpornis cucullatus, Turdus rufiventris, Trogon surrucura .: 11802 >: