| Dusky spinetail | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Furnariidae |
| Genus: | Synallaxis |
| Species: | S. moesta |
| Binomial name | |
| Synallaxis moesta Sclater, PL, 1856 | |
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The dusky spinetail (Synallaxis moesta) is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. [2]
The dusky spinetail has three subspecies, the nominate S. m. moesta (Sclater, PL, 1856), S. m. brunneicaudalis (Sclater, PL, 1858), and S. m. obscura (Chapman, 1914). [2]
In the early twentieth century, subspecies S. m. brunneicaudalis was treated as a separate species but since then has had its present placement. Genetic data published in 2011 supported that the dusky spinetail, Cabanis's spinetail (S. cabanisi), and McConnell's spinetail (S. macconnelli) form a monophyletic group. However, data published in 2013 has evidence that the dusky spinetail might be more closely related to the rufous-capped spinetail (S. ruficapilla). [3] [4] [5] [6]
The dusky spinetail is 15.5 to 17 cm (6.1 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 20 to 25 g (0.71 to 0.88 oz). It is one of the darkest of the Synallaxis spinetails. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark sooty-gray face. Their forcrown is blackish gray, their hindcrown dark chestnut, their back dark sooty brownish, and their rump and uppertail coverts a slightly lighter sooty brownish. Their wings are dark chestnut with fuscous tips on the flight feathers. Their tail is dark chestnut; it is graduated and the feathers have pointed tips. Their chin is blackish gray with paler feather shafts, giving a frosted appearance. Their underparts are mostly dark sooty brownish with slightly browner flanks. Their iris is rufous to brown, their maxilla black to slate, their mandible blue-gray to light gray (sometimes with a dark tip), and their legs and feet greenish gray to grayish olive. Juveniles have a gray crown, dusky brownish tips on the wing coverts, a gray and white faintly barred throat, and more grayish underparts than adults. Subspecies S. m. brunneicaudalis is darker overall than the nominate, with especially darker and uniform gray underparts. S. m. obscura is even darker than brunneicaudalis, but with a browner back, tail, and underparts. [4] [7] [8]
The dusky spinetail is a bird of the Andean foothills. The nominate subspecies is the northernmost. It is found in central Colombia's Eastern Andes in southern Casanare Department and northwestern Meta Department. Subspecies S. m. obscura is found in the Eastern Andes of southern Colombia in the departments of Caquetá and Putumayo. S. m. brunneicaudalis is found from southeastern Nariño Department in far southwestern Colombia south through central Ecuador into northeastern Peru as far as northern San Martín Department. [4] [7] [8]
The dusky spinetail inhabits the edges of several forest types, including riparian and tropical evergreen forests; it also occurs in secondary forest. It favors areas of dense undergrowth and is sometimes associated with bamboo thickets. In elevation it mostly ranges between 250 and 1,350 m (800 and 4,400 ft) but in Colombia can be found as high as 1,600 m (5,200 ft). [4] [7] [8]
The dusky spinetail is a year-round resident throughout its range. [4]
The dusky spinetail's diet and foraging behavior are not well known. It is thought to feed on arthropods that it gleans from foliage and small branches, staying about 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) above the ground. It is usually seen in pairs. [4] [8]
The dusky spinetail's nesting season has not been defined but includes February. One nest was a ball of sticks with an entrance tube on the side placed in a thick vine tangle. Little else is known about the species' breeding biology. [4] [9]
The dusky spinetail makes "a low-pitched nasal chattering or churring, 'rha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a' "; it is not known if this is a song or a call. [8]
The IUCN originally in 2004 assessed the dusky spinetail as being of Least Concern, then in 2012 as Near Threatened, and since 2021 again as of Least Concern. It has a large range and an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing. "The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in the Amazon basin. It is thought to be susceptible to fragmentation and edge effects and it is not found in heavily deforested areas." [1] It is considered uncommon and local. It "[o]ccurs within a narrow elevational band in an altitudinal zone that is often under intense pressure from agriculture". [4]
The stripe-breasted spinetail is a passerine bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Trinidad, Tobago, and Venezuela.
The slaty spinetail or slaty castlebuilder,, is a passerine bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found from Honduras south to Peru.
Synallaxis is a genus of birds in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. It is one of the most diverse genera in the family and is composed of small birds that inhabit dense undergrowth across tropical and subtropical habitats in the Neotropical region. Some species show contrasting plumage patterns involving rufous crown and wing patches and black throat patches but they are difficult to see as they keep ensconced in vegetation most of the time. Most species show the long graduated tail with pointy feathers that is typical of spinetails. They are also characterized by constructing large domed nests with stick, including a long entrance tube. Some species can be difficult to distinguish from one another on the basis of their plumage, but can be told apart by their vocalizations, which can be quite distinctive.
The white-browed spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The great spinetail is a Near Threatened species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Peru.
The dark-breasted spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Azara's spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Cabanis's spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.
The white-whiskered spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
The chestnut-throated spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is mainly found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Bahia spinetail is a Near Threatened species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
The plain-crowned spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The cinereous-breasted spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
Pinto's spinetail is an Endangered species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to north-eastern Brazil. It is known locally as "tatac".
McConnell's spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The Maranon spinetail is a Critically Endangered species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The rufous-capped spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
The ruddy spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and possibly Guyana.
The ochre-cheeked spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
The rufous spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
