About the Crested Spinetail
The crested spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Rusty-backed SpinetailCranioleuca vulpinaThe rusty-backed spinetail is 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long and weighs 14 to 17 g (0.49 to 0.60 oz).
Ash-browed SpinetailCranioleuca curtataThe ash-browed spinetail is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 14 to 21 g (0.49 to 0.74 oz).
Olive SpinetailCranioleuca obsoletaThe olive spinetail is 12.5 to 15 cm (4.9 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 12 to 16 g (0.42 to 0.56 oz).
Learn the Crested Spinetail for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.