Azara's Spinetail

Overview

Azara's spinetail (Synallaxis azarae) is a species of ovenbird in the Furnariidae family found across the Andes of South America. It is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a large range and a population believed to be stable.

Identification

• Measures 15 to 18 cm in length and weighs between 12 and 18 g.
• The nominate subspecies features a brownish-gray face with a pale supercilium, a dark grayish-brown forehead, and a dark rufous hindcrown and nape.
• Wings are rufous-chestnut with dark brownish tips, while the tail is dull chestnut-brown, graduated, and pointed.
• Produces repetitive, sharp vocalisations such as "ket-kwééék" or "pip-squeak", as well as scratchy "prrt" notes and short "chur" sounds.

Habitat

Inhabits semi-open landscapes such as montane evergreen forest edges, secondary forest, cloudforest margins, and bushy pastures in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Typically found at elevations between 1,500 and 3,500 m, though it occurs lower in Bolivia and Argentina.

Diet

Feeds primarily on arthropods and small seeds, gleaning prey from foliage, small branches, and occasionally dead leaves. Usually forages in pairs or joins mixed-species feeding flocks, generally staying below 2 m from the ground.

Did you know?

Nests may include shed snake skin as part of the inner lining, alongside soft plant material.