The feeding technique of this furnarid is to explore holes or the bark of trees in search for arthropods. It resembles a woodpecker in form. Short legs with powerful claws to cling to trunks, stiff tail vanes to keep an upright position and a strong bill. It does not drill wood with its decurved bill but it explores crevices or probes the bark peeling it off. It moves upward in small hops and circling the tree. Once a tree has been explored, the woodcreeper glides to the base of the following one to begin with the ascent.