Maranon Spinetail

Overview

The Marañon spinetail (Synallaxis maranonica) is a Critically Endangered bird species in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in the river valley regions of southeastern Ecuador and northern Peru.

Identification

• Length of 14 to 16 cm with a weight of 16 to 17 g.
• Adult plumage features a dark brownish-gray face, a crown and upper back that are dark grayish brown becoming rufescent at the rump, and dark rufous wings and tail.
• Brown irises, a black to dark gray maxilla, and a blue-gray mandible; juveniles possess a pinkish-yellow mandible and faint dark scallops on the breast and belly.
• Song described as a very slow-paced, somewhat nasal 'kieeuuw...keeeu' with several seconds between phrases.

Habitat

Inhabits the undergrowth of semihumid gallery forest, secondary forest, and deciduous woodlands along rivers, as well as the edges of humid forest. Its range extends from the Marañón River valley in Ecuador's Zamora-Chinchipe Province south into the Cajamarca and Amazonas departments of Peru, occupying elevations between 450 and 1,850 m.

Diet

Feeds exclusively on arthropods, usually foraging in pairs by gleaning prey from the ground, foliage, and small branches up to approximately 2 m above the ground.

Did you know?

This species was previously classified as a subspecies of the plain-crowned spinetail before plumage, vocal, and genetic differences warranted its separation. It is considered difficult to see in the wild, leading to the likelihood that its presence is frequently overlooked.