Rufous-capped Spinetail

Overview

The rufous-capped spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla) is a species of ovenbird found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, with a large range and a population believed to be stable.

Identification

• Measures 13 to 17 cm in length and weighs 12 to 16 g, with sexes sharing the same plumage.
• Features a bright orange-rufous crown and nape, a wide buff supercilium, and dark brownish-gray lores and ear coverts.
• Possesses a chestnut, graduated tail with pointed tips, chestnut-brown wings, and greenish-gray legs.
• Song includes a fast nasal 'di-di-di-réét' or a quiet, insistent 'drrrrrt wee'; calls consist of a low-pitched trill like 'tshrrr'.

Habitat

Ranges across Brazil, far eastern Paraguay, and northern Argentina, where it inhabits the undergrowth and edges of montane and lowland evergreen forests. It is strongly associated with stands of Chusquea bamboo and occupies elevations from near sea level up to 1,400 m.

Diet

Although poorly understood, the species is assumed to feed mostly on arthropods. It primarily forages in pairs, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks, and captures prey by gleaning from foliage and small branches in the forest understory.

Did you know?

The rufous-capped spinetail constructs a bulky nest made of thorny sticks featuring a downward-slanting entrance tube, typically placed between 1 and 2.5 m above the ground.