Dusky Spinetail

Overview

The dusky spinetail (Synallaxis moesta) is a species of bird in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is a year-round resident found in the Andean foothills of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Identification

• Measures 15.5 to 17 cm in length and weighs 20 to 25 g, with plumage that is among the darkest of its genus.
• Features a dark sooty-gray face, blackish-gray forcrown, and dark chestnut hindcrown and tail.
• Underparts are mostly dark sooty brownish, with a blackish-gray chin that appears frosted due to paler feather shafts.
• Produces a low-pitched nasal chattering or churring sound described as 'rha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a'.

Habitat

This species inhabits the edges of riparian and tropical evergreen forests, as well as secondary forests, favouring dense undergrowth and bamboo thickets. It is found in the Andean foothills at elevations typically between 250 and 1,350 m, though it can reach up to 1,600 m in Colombia.

Diet

The species is thought to feed on arthropods gleaned from foliage and small branches about 1 to 2 m above the ground. It is usually observed foraging in pairs, though specific dietary details remain poorly documented.

Did you know?

The species was reclassified from Near Threatened back to Least Concern in 2021, yet it remains susceptible to fragmentation and edge effects because it is absent from heavily deforested areas and confined to a narrow elevational band under agricultural pressure.