Rusty-headed Spinetail
Synallaxis fuscorufa
Skulking cloud forest bird endemic to Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. Adult has a rusty hood, wings, and tail that contrast with its gray back and belly. Young birds are duller and may show faint barring on the belly. Separated from other similar species in range by its entirely chestnut head and lack of eyebrows and streaking. Shy and often hard to see, usually staying hidden inside foliage at low to middle levels. Frequently sings a strident “pit-pit-pit-chew”; the number of notes is variable.
Identification
The rusty-headed spinetail is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 15 to 17 g (0.53 to 0.60 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults are mostly bright reddish rufous. They do have dark lores, a dull grayish olive back, olive flanks, and a somewhat duller rufous tail. Their iris is reddish brown, their maxilla black, their mandible blue-gray, and their legs and feet gray to blue-gray. Juveniles have a much duller crown than adults, and tawny-olive edges on their underparts' feathers and faint barring on their belly. Their irises are light brown and their mandible yellowish pink.
Taxonomy
The rusty-headed spinetail, rufous spinetail (S. unirufa), and black-throated spinetail (S. castanea) are closely related and some authors have treated them as a single species. The rusty-headed spinetail is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Synallaxis fuscorufa
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1882
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Synallaxis
Range and habitat
The rusty-headed spinetail is found only in the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of northern Colombia. It occurs only locally, inhabiting the bushy edges and undergrowth of evergreen forest, overgrown clearings, and second-growth scrub in the subtropical and temperate zones of the mountain range. In elevation it mostly ranges between 2,000 and 3,000 m (6,600 and 9,800 ft) but occurs as low as 760 m (2,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Buff-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher
Poecilotriccus senex
Very small, poorly-known flycatcher. Note the buff lores and streaked throat. Has a gray crown, an olive back, and white underparts. Found at the edges of humid forest, often along black-water rivers and in low-stature white sand forests. The song is a short deep trill, sometimes preceded by “tick” notes.
Banded Woodpecker
Chrysophlegma miniaceum
Small but brightly-colored woodpecker with a spiky crest. Slight variation across its range, but all birds have a dark orangish face, dark chestnut wings, black-and-white-striped underparts, and a dark tail. Female duller overall, with a plainer face. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, edges, and gardens, where it can be reasonably common. Often seen singly, but can be encountered in closely-foraging pairs. Favors tall thick trunks. Gives sharp “kek” or “week” call notes. Difficult to confuse with any other small woodpecker.
Blue-winged Minla
Actinodura cyanouroptera
A brightly colored bird of lowland and foothill forests. Usually travels in large groups, and is often a chief component of mixed-species feeding flocks. Adult is a powdery gray-blue overall with blue highlights on the wings and tail. The face and sides are tinged soft gray-brown. Varies considerably over range; birds in southern Southeast Asian portion of range are very gray, lacking bright colors. Sexes alike. Acrobatic, often hanging upside down on branches to probe for invertebrates and fruit hidden by foliage. Listen for its high-pitched paired whistles: “dwweeee-deeee.”
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