Yellow-chinned Spinetail

Overview

The yellow-chinned spinetail (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) is a passerine bird native to the tropical New World, ranging from Trinidad and Colombia south to Argentina and Uruguay. As a common resident of South American riverine environments, it is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• A slender bird approximately 15 cm long and weighing 15 g, characterised by a long tail.
• Upperparts and head are chestnut brown, contrasting with whitish underparts and a pale yellow throat.
• Emits a shrill rattling call.
• Sexes are visually similar, though subspecies may differ in forecrown colour or upperparts tone.

Habitat

This species inhabits open woodland in the vicinity of rivers, specifically favouring marshes and the edges of mangrove swamps. Its range covers most of South America, extending from the Guianas and Venezuela through Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay to northwestern Argentina and Uruguay, with notable absences in parts of the Amazon Basin.

Diet

The yellow-chinned spinetail feeds on insects and spiders. It forages by keeping low and often in the open, behaving as a conspicuous, confiding, and noisy bird.

Did you know?

Unlike other ovenbirds in its family, this species constructs a large spherical stick nest with a tubular entrance tunnel that rises almost vertically from the base to the top. It is also subject to brood parasitism by the striped cuckoo, which lays eggs in the nest.