Spectacled Prickletail
Siptornis striaticollis
The Spectacled Prickletail (Siptornis striaticollis) is a legendary ovenbirds and woodcreeper found in 3 countries, weighing about 13 g. The spectacled prickletail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae.


About the Spectacled Prickletail
The spectacled prickletail 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 spectacled prickletail is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 12 to 13 g (0.42 to 0.46 oz). It is a tiny furnariid that resembles a xenops. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have dull fuscous lores, a whitish supercilium and partial eyering, rufescent ear coverts with tawny streaks, and brown malars with pale buff streaks. Their crown is dark reddish brown with a hint of pale streaks. Their upperparts are rich rufescent brown that becomes redder to the chestnut-tinged uppertail coverts. Voice: What is thought to be the spectacled prickletail's song is a high-pitched trill.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Spectacled Prickletail?
- The spectacled prickletail is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 12 to 13 g (0.42 to 0.46 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Spectacled Prickletail?
- The Spectacled Prickletail is a tiny sized bird weighing about 13 g.
- Where can you see a Spectacled Prickletail?
- The Spectacled Prickletail occurs in 3 countries, including Ecuador and Colombia.
- What birds look similar to a Spectacled Prickletail?
- The Spectacled Prickletail is most easily confused with the Chinchipe Spinetail, the Equatorial Greytail and the Russet-mantled Softtail.
- Is the Spectacled Prickletail endangered?
- The Spectacled Prickletail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Spectacled Prickletail for real
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