This Buffed Burnished Bird Exemplifies The Saying “Not All That Glitters Is Gold!”

clonejoe | March 20, 2024 | Articles

A pale grayish buff-bodied bird adorned with a striking rufous crown, face, wings, and tail.

Meet the Red-faced spinetail:

“Red-faced Spinetail – Colombia_S4E4386” (cropped) by fveronesi1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Description: The red-faced spinetail (Cranioleuca erythrops), belonging to the Furnariidae family measuring 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) in length and weighing 13 to 20 g (0.46 to 0.71 oz), the red-faced spinetail displays consistent plumage between sexes. The nominate subspecies boasts a rufous face and crown, contrasting with a rich olive-brown nape and back. Its wings are rufous with slightly duller edges, and the tail is reddish chestnut.

“Cranioleuca erythrops Chamicero rubicundo Red-faced Spinetail (8447762264)” by Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Both sexes exhibit similar characteristics, with juveniles featuring an olive-brown crown and an ochraceous wash on the throat and breast.

Taxonomy and classification: This species, scientifically known as Cranioleuca erythrops, comprises three subspecies: C. e. erythrops, C. e. rufigenis, and C. e. griseigularis.

“Red-faced Spinetail Mindo aug2014” (cropped) by Feroze Omardeen is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Distribution: This bird species is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.

“Red-faced Spinetail” by Wildreturn is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Habitat: The red-faced spinetail is primarily found in lower to mid-elevation subtropical montane forests and woodlands, including mature secondary forests. Its range spans from Colombia to Ecuador, inhabiting elevations between 700 and 2,000 m (2,300 and 6,600 ft) in Costa Rica, and from 800 to 2,000 m (2,600 and 6,600 ft) in Colombia.

Feeding: Feeding primarily on arthropods, the red-faced spinetail also consumes protein corpuscles from Cecropia trees. It forages alone or in pairs, often as part of mixed-species feeding flocks, and feeds mainly in the forest’s middle levels.

“Red-faced Spinetail” (cropped) by Wildreturn is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Breeding: Breeding season varies geographically, occurring from March to June in Central America and later (up to November) in Ecuador. Its nest, typically hanging from a thin branch, is constructed from moss, vine stems, and dead leaves, featuring an entrance at the bottom and an inner chamber lined with plant fibers.

“File:Red-faced Spinetail Jim Scarff.jpg” by Jim Scarff from Berkeley, CA, USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Behavior: This species is a year-round resident across its distribution range.

“red-faced spinetail” (cropped) by Christoph Moning is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Songs and calls: The red-faced spinetail’s vocalizations include a high-pitched, fast, scratchy chatter-trill, along with short, high-pitched calls.

“red-faced spinetail” (cropped) by Rob Foster is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Status Assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the species is considered fairly common throughout its range and is present in a few protected areas.

“Red-faced Spinetail” by Chuck Gates is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Watch these birds in action:

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Decked Out Vibrant Pink, This Bird Is Strangely Overlooked And Rarely Seen Due To Their Unobtrusive Nature!

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