Creamy-crested Spinetail

Cranioleuca albicapilla

Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers · Passeriformes · Rare

The Creamy-crested Spinetail (Cranioleuca albicapilla) is a rare ovenbirds and woodcreeper found only in Peru, weighing about 21 g. The creamy-crested spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae.

Least ConcernRareEndemicEats invertebratesshrublanddome nest21 g

About the Creamy-crested Spinetail

The creamy-crested spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The creamy-crested spinetail is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 18 to 24 g (0.63 to 0.85 oz). It is a large member of genus Cranioleuca and has a distinctive head pattern. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a narrow whitish supercilium and gray-brown lores on an otherwise buffy face with some streaking. Their crown and crest are creamy-white. Their back is olivaceous gray that is browner at the rump. Their wing coverts are dark rufous and their flight feathers dull brown. Their tail is rufous; it is graduated and the feathers have pointed tips. Voice: The creamy-crested spinetail's song is "a loud, ascending-descending series of semi-musical notes: tch, tch, tleep-chee-chee-cheechee-ee-ee-ee-ee-trrrr" and is often given in duet. Its calls include "a rising tlee'lee", "a loud, semi-whistled dew", and a "rapid series of tleep notes".

Where it lives

When to see it

The Creamy-crested Spinetail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Creamy-crested Spinetail?
The creamy-crested spinetail is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 18 to 24 g (0.63 to 0.85 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Creamy-crested Spinetail?
The Creamy-crested Spinetail is a small sized bird weighing about 21 g.
Where can you see a Creamy-crested Spinetail?
The Creamy-crested Spinetail is endemic to Peru, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Creamy-crested Spinetail?
The Creamy-crested Spinetail is most easily confused with the Line-cheeked Spinetail, the Olive Spinetail and the Streak-capped Spinetail.
Is the Creamy-crested Spinetail endangered?
The Creamy-crested Spinetail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Creamy-crested Spinetail for real

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