Rufous-breasted Spinetail

The Rufous-breasted Spinetail, a member of the ovenbird family Furnariidae, is a small bird with a length ranging from 13 to 16 cm and a weight between 15 to 19 grams. Both sexes exhibit the same plumage, characterized by a sepia brown upper body, chestnut wings with brown-tipped flight feathers, and a chestnut brown tail with distinctive black shafts. The face is also sepia brown, while the chin and upper throat are slate black with white streaks, transitioning to a solid slate black lower throat. The breast and sides are a deep cinnamon rufous, with flanks of light brown and a belly mottled in whitish or mouse gray with an olive tinge. The undertail coverts are a lighter, grayer brown. The iris of this species is dark red to reddish brown, the bill is black, and the legs and feet are a bright gray to greenish gray.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Rufous-breasted Spinetail, look for the sepia brown upper parts, chestnut wings, and tail with black shafts. The distinctive slate black throat with white streaks and deep cinnamon rufous breast are key features. Juveniles are similar but have a lighter brown upper breast and flanks, with a pale grayish lower breast and belly mottled with brown.

Habitat

This species thrives in dense vegetation, including the edges of lowland evergreen forests, secondary forests, second-growth scrublands, brushy clearings, and swampy areas.

Distribution

The Rufous-breasted Spinetail has a disjunct distribution across parts of Central America. The nominate subspecies is found from Veracruz and northern Oaxaca in Mexico, extending southward through Belize and Guatemala to northwestern Honduras. The subspecies S. e. pacifica inhabits areas from southwestern Chiapas in Mexico through Guatemala to El Salvador.

Behaviour

The Rufous-breasted Spinetail is a year-round resident within its range, often seen foraging alone or in pairs. It gleans prey from foliage and the ground in dense vegetation.

Song & Calls

The song of this species is a nasal "weet!-weet!-weet!-Wur'r'r'r'r'r", while other vocalizations include a high, rising slightly shrieking "wrutuwit-wít-truw" and a nasal, emphatic "whit'chew". Its alarm call is a chatter or trill.

Breeding

The breeding season is not fully defined but includes at least late March to September. Both sexes participate in nest building, creating a dome of thorny sticks with a tunnel entrance. The nest is "thatched" with bark and leaves, and the inner chamber contains a cup of grass and fine twigs. Clutches typically consist of three eggs, sometimes four, with an incubation period of 17 to 18 days and fledging occurring about 15 days after hatching.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mostly of arthropods, supplemented with small berries. The Rufous-breasted Spinetail forages in dense vegetation, gleaning prey from foliage and the ground.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Rufous-breasted Spinetail as Least Concern. It has a large range and a stable estimated population of at least 50,000 mature individuals. No immediate threats have been identified, though the future impact of human activities will depend on the balance between secondary habitat creation and deforestation.