Rufous-capped Spinetail vs Spix's Spinetail

Rufous-capped Spinetail

Synallaxis ruficapilla

Tiny14 gForest

The rufous-capped spinetail is 13 to 17 cm (5.1 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 12 to 16 g (0.42 to 0.56 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a wide buff supercilium and dark brownish gray lores and ear coverts. Their crown and nape are bright orange-rufous and their back, rump, and uppertail coverts are rufescent brown. Their wings are mostly chestnut-brown. Their tail is chestnut; it is graduated and the feathers have pointed tips. Their chin has a tiny tawny spot; the rest of their chin and throat are whitish with faint gray streaks. Voice: The rufous-capped spinetail's song has variously been described as "a fast nasal 'di-di-di-réét' ", "tdrrrWit", and "a quiet, insistent 'drrrrrt wee' ". Its call is "a distinctive low-pitched trill, 'tshrrr' " also described as a "dry rattle, like 'trrrrruh' ".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Marcelo Schmidt Roberti · CC BY 4.0

Spix's Spinetail

Synallaxis spixi

Tiny13 gShrubland

Spix's spinetail is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long and weighs about 12 to 15 g (0.42 to 0.53 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a pale gray supercilium on an otherwise grayish brown face. Their crown is rufous and their back, rump and uppertail coverts dark brown. Their lesser wing coverts are rufous, their median and greater wing coverts dark brown with wide rufous edges, and their flight feathers dark brown. Their tail is dark brown; it is graduated and the central feathers have pointed tips. Voice: The song of Spix's spinetail has been described as "a five syllable phrase, last four notes with bubbling quality: sweet! bee bee bee bee . . . . . .sweet! bee bee bee bee . . . ." and a repeated "wee'tiddledidee....wee'tiddledidee". Another vocalization is a "4- or 5-noted 'wuh-wididit' ".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Daniel S. Katz · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Rufous-capped Spinetail and Spix's Spinetail.