How do you identify a Dusky Spinetail?

The dusky spinetail is 15.5 to 17 cm (6.1 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 20 to 25 g (0.71 to 0.88 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Dusky Spinetail?

The Dusky Spinetail is a small sized bird weighing about 22 g.

Where can you see a Dusky Spinetail?

The Dusky Spinetail occurs in 3 countries, including Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

What does a Dusky Spinetail sound like?

You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Dusky Spinetail on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.

What birds look similar to a Dusky Spinetail?

The Dusky Spinetail is most easily confused with the Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, the Ruddy Spinetail and the Black-throated Spinetail.

Is the Dusky Spinetail endangered?

The Dusky Spinetail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Dusky Spinetail

Synallaxis moesta

Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers · Passeriformes · Rare

The Dusky Spinetail (Synallaxis moesta) is a rare ovenbirds and woodcreeper found in 3 countries, weighing about 22 g. The dusky spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebratesforestdome nest22 g

Dusky Spinetail (Synallaxis moesta), photo 1 — Photo: David Monroy R · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dusky Spinetail (Synallaxis moesta), photo 2 — Photo: David Monroy R · CC BY 4.0

Dusky Spinetail (Synallaxis moesta), photo 3 — Photo: (c) David Monroy R, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Dusky Spinetail

The dusky spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

How to identify it

The dusky spinetail is 15.5 to 17 cm (6.1 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 20 to 25 g (0.71 to 0.88 oz). It is one of the darkest of the Synallaxis spinetails. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark sooty-gray face. Their forcrown is blackish gray, their hindcrown dark chestnut, their back dark sooty brownish, and their rump and uppertail coverts a slightly lighter sooty brownish. Their wings are dark chestnut with fuscous tips on the flight feathers. Their tail is dark chestnut; it is graduated and the feathers have pointed tips. Voice: The dusky spinetail makes "a low-pitched nasal chattering or churring, 'rha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a' "; it is not known if this is a song or a call.

What the Dusky Spinetail sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Ecuador Colombia Peru

When to see it

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

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Dusky Spinetail?: The dusky spinetail is 15.5 to 17 cm (6.1 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 20 to 25 g (0.71 to 0.88 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Dusky Spinetail?: The Dusky Spinetail is a small sized bird weighing about 22 g.
Where can you see a Dusky Spinetail?: The Dusky Spinetail occurs in 3 countries, including Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
What does a Dusky Spinetail sound like?: You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Dusky Spinetail on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Dusky Spinetail?: The Dusky Spinetail is most easily confused with the Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, the Ruddy Spinetail and the Black-throated Spinetail.
Is the Dusky Spinetail endangered?: The Dusky Spinetail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Dusky 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.

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