Spot-crowned Woodcreeper

The spot-crowned woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes affinis), is a passerine bird in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. it is found in Middle America from Mexico to Panama. == Taxonomy and systematics == What is now the montane woodcreeper (L. lacrymiger) was formerly considered conspecific with the spot-crowned woodcreeper but they were split in the early 2000s. The spot-crowned woodcreeper's taxonomy since then remains unsettled. The International Ornithological Committee and the Clements taxonomy assign it these three subspecies: L. a. lignicida (Bangs & Penard, TE, 1919) L. a. affinis (Lafresnaye, 1839) L. a. neglectus (Ridgway, 1909) However, BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) treats L. a. neglectus as a separate species, the southern spot-crowned woodcreeper. It calls L. a. affinis and L. a. lignicida the northern spot-crowned woodcreeper. This article follows the one species, three-subspecies, model. == Description == The spot-crowned woodcreeper is 19 to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.7 in) long and weighs 28 to 38 g (0.99 to 1.3 oz). It is a slim, medium-sized woodcreeper with a slim, moderately decurved bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies L. a. affinis have a dusky face and sides of the…