Bird Guide

Crested Spinetail vs Pallid Spinetail

Crested Spinetail (Cranioleuca subcristata)

Crested Spinetail

Cranioleuca subcristata

Tiny15 gForest

The crested spinetail is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long and weighs about 14 g (0.49 oz). It is a long-billed member of genus Cranioleuca but despite its name has only a very slight crest. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a faint whitish brown supercilium on an otherwise dull brownish face. Their crown is indistinctly striped with light and dark brown, and their back, rump, and uppertail coverts are brown. Their tail and wings are dark rufous with dark fuscous tips on the flight feathers. Voice: The crested spinetail's song is "3 high, shrill notes followed by chattery descending trill, 'pzeep, pzeep, pzeep, pee-pee-pe-e-e-e' " and its calls "a sharp 'tsink' low rattle".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Crested Spinetail
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · Caricuao (near Parroquia Macarao), Libertador, Capital District, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Aitor · CC BY 4.0
Pallid Spinetail (Cranioleuca pallida)

Pallid Spinetail

Cranioleuca pallida

Tiny12 gForest

The pallid spinetail is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 11 to 12 g (0.39 to 0.42 oz). It is a smallish member of genus Cranioleuca. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a wide whitish supercilium, a blackish spot in front of the eye, a dark brown band behind the eye, and buffy ear coverts with faint dark brownish streaks. Their forehead is streaked blackish and buff, their crown is dark rufous, and their nape gray. Their back and rump are tawny-olive or olive-brown. Their tail is dark rufous; the feathers are graduated and lack barbs at the end giving a spiky appearance. Voice: The pallid spinetail's song is an "extr. high, slightly descending series of about 5 'seetseet---tut' notes (often accelerated to a trill at the end)". Its call is "tééé-ssik, tséé-ssik".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: filipeprates · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Crested Spinetail and Pallid Spinetail.