Silvery-throated Spinetail
Synallaxis subpudica
A typical-looking spinetail with a very restricted range in central Colombia. Gray-brown overall with a rusty or rufous crown and wings, and a long, spiky grayish tail. Throat looks dark, not silvery. Fairly common in forests, edges, and thickets from around 2,000 to 3,200 m. Skulking and fairly difficult to see. Compare with Azara’s Spinetail, which has a rufous tail. Listen for long descending chatters and chip calls.
Identification
The silvery-throated spinetail is 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a thin light cinnamon supercilium on an otherwise grayish brown face. Their forecrown is grayish brown, their hindcrown and nape rufous-chestnut, and their back, rump, and uppertail coverts brown. Their wing coverts and base of their flight feathers are chestnut and the rest of the flight feathers are brown. Their tail is a slightly darker brown than the back; it is very long and the feathers lack barbs at their tips, giving a spiny appearance. Their throat is gray with faint darker mottling and a blackish center. Their underparts are dull grayish brown with an olive tinge; it is lighter on the belly. Their iris is dark reddish brown, their maxilla blackish gray, their mandible gray, and their legs and feet gray. Juveniles have a gray crown.
Taxonomy
The silvery-throated spinetail is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Synallaxis subpudica
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1874
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Synallaxis
Range and habitat
The silvery-throated spinetail is found in Colombia's Eastern Andes from northern Boyacá Department north into Santander Department. It primarily inhabits the edges of montane evergreen forest, both primary and secondary, and second-growth scrublands. It also occurs in the undergrowth at the edge of cloudforest and in forest clearings that are regrowing. In elevation it mostly ranges between 2,100 and 3,200 m (6,900 and 10,500 ft) but is found as low as 1,300 m (4,300 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The silvery-throated spinetail is a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The silvery-throated spinetail's diet has not been studied; it is assumed to feed mostly on arthropods. It usually forages in pairs, gleaning prey from foliage and small branches, typically 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) above the ground but sometimes higher.<p>The silvery-throated spinetail's nest is a bulky mass of thorny sticks with a horizontal entrance tube; the egg chamber is lined with moss. It is typically placed in a bush about 2 m (7 ft) above the ground. Nothing else is known about its breeding biology.<p>The silvery-throated spinetail's song is "a fast, accelerating, descending and fading series of chattering notes...'chí-chi-chi-che-che-che-chu-chu-chu' " and is often sung in duet. Its call is "a sharp 'kik' " and its alarm call "a low trill".
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-breasted Boatbill
Machaerirhynchus nigripectus
A fairly small, broad-billed bird of montane forest and edge. Yellow underparts and face with large black chest patch, black upperparts with white wing and undertail markings. Similar to Goldenface and Yellow-breasted Boatbill but the latter is found at lower elevations and both lack the black breast spot. A forceful, slightly wheezy, whistled series, often rising. Phrases interspersed with harsh “jak-jak-jak!” notes.
Gray Honeyeater
Conopophila whitei
Small plain desert honeyeater of inland Western and central Australia that is seldom observed. Relatively short, decurved bill and extremely plain plumage, gray above, paler gray below, with no obvious field marks other than faint pale tips to some tail feathers. Compare Western Gerygone, which has thinner bill and slight eyebrow. Usually seen singly or in pairs. Call is very distinctive and squeaky, a perky three-note "widdle-dit."
Red-faced Guan
Penelope dabbenei
Mostly arboreal guan endemic to the semi-humid forest with Podocarpus and alders of the mid-elevation east Andes in southern Bolivia and northeast Argentina. Often in ravines and river basins. The sympatric Dusky-legged Guan is more common, but shows grayish-blue skin around the eye. Tends to perch high in trees, singly or in pairs, and often found by far-carrying vocalizations given from high in trees. Note pale supercilium, dull pinkish legs, exposed red orbital skin and wattle.
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