Bird Guide

Necklaced Spinetail vs White-browed Spinetail

Necklaced Spinetail (Synallaxis stictothorax)

Necklaced Spinetail

Synallaxis stictothorax

Tiny10 gShrubland

The necklaced spinetail is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long and weighs 10 to 14 g (0.35 to 0.49 oz). It is one of the smallest members of genus Synallaxis. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a white supercilium on an otherwise blackish face with faint whitish streaks. Their forecrown has black and white streaks. The rest of their crown is dull grayish brown, their back slightly browner, their rump rufescent-brown, and their uppertail coverts bright rufous. The wing has whitish at the bend; the coverts and secondaries are rufous and the primaries dusky. Voice: The necklaced spinetail's principal song is "a short stuttering chatter ending with several squeaky emphasized notes...trrr-tr-tr-kweet...kweet". Pairs sing in duet, usually in the early morning and late afternoon, and usually from deep in dense vegetation though sometimes from a visible perch. Its calls include a "long rattled series of notes...

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Necklaced Spinetail
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call, excited calls · El Oro: Carcabon, Arenillas Ecological Reserve, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dan Vickers · CC BY 4.0
White-browed Spinetail (Hellmayrea gularis)

White-browed Spinetail

Hellmayrea gularis

Tiny12 gForest

The white-browed spinetail is 11 to 13.5 cm (4.3 to 5.3 in) long and weighs 11 to 15 g (0.39 to 0.53 oz). It has a short tail compared to other spinetails. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies H. g. gularis have whitish supercilia that almost meet on the forehead on an otherwise dark rufescent brown face. Their forehead, crown, and nape are rufescent brown with faint paler streaks. Their upperparts and wings are also rufescent brown. Their tail is rufescent brown; the ends of the feathers are pointed and lack barbs. Voice: The white-browed spinetail's song is "a series of high-pitched notes ending in trill, 'chit-chit-chit-chit-chi-chi-chichichichichichi' or 'cheet teet-teet-ti-tititit' ". Its calls include an "abrupt 'chip' " and a "nasal descending trill" and also "repeated single 'chiyt' or 'tseet' notes".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the White-browed Spinetail
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Azuay: Río Mazan, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Peter Archdale · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Necklaced Spinetail and White-browed Spinetail.