Ruddy Spinetail

The Ruddy Spinetail, a small bird of the Furnariidae family, exhibits a length between 13 to 15 cm and a weight ranging from 15 to 22 grams. The adult male of the nominate subspecies, Synallaxis rutilans rutilans, is characterized by a deep ruddy chestnut face with mottled blackish lores, a chestnut forecrown, and an olive-brown washed hindcrown, nape, and back. The rump and uppertail coverts are a dull dark brown, while the wing coverts are chestnut, and the flight feathers are fuscous with dull chestnut edges. The tail is slaty blackish, graduated, and the feathers somewhat pointed. The throat is black, the breast a bright ruddy chestnut, and the belly and undertail coverts dark olive-brownish, with flanks slightly browner. The iris ranges from brown to chestnut-red, the maxilla is black, the mandible varies from black to blue-gray, and the legs and feet are olive-gray to dark gray or black. Females are slightly paler with more of an olive wash, and juveniles are duller with a gray throat and less rufous coloring.

Identification Tips

To identify the Ruddy Spinetail, look for its distinctive ruddy chestnut plumage, black throat, and slaty blackish tail. The bird's small size and pointed tail feathers are also key characteristics. Subspecies vary slightly in coloration, with some showing more olive or brown tinges.

Habitat

The Ruddy Spinetail is typically found in the undergrowth of terra firme forests and tropical lowland evergreen forests.

Distribution

This species is distributed across South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and potentially Guyana.

Behaviour

As a year-round resident, the Ruddy Spinetail is known to forage in pairs and occasionally join mixed-species feeding flocks. It stays within dense undergrowth and is adept at gleaning prey from foliage and leaf litter.

Song & Calls

The song of the Ruddy Spinetail is a two-noted "keéwoh" with the second note lower, which is constantly repeated. Other interpretations of its call include "tac, tac-owet," "kít-naaa," or "chíck-dawah," and variations like "keé-kawów" or "keé-kow."

Breeding

The species constructs a globular twig nest with a horizontal entrance tunnel. Clutch size typically consists of three to four eggs, but further details on its breeding biology remain elusive.

Similar Species

The Ruddy Spinetail is closely related to the Stripe-breasted Spinetail and Chestnut-throated Spinetail, but can be distinguished by its unique coloration and vocalizations.

Diet and Feeding

Its diet consists of a wide variety of arthropods, and it employs a foraging strategy that involves gleaning from foliage and leaf litter up to about 2 meters above ground.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Ruddy Spinetail as Least Concern. Despite its population trend being believed to decrease, it has a very large range and no immediate threats have been identified. It is generally considered uncommon to fairly common in its range, though it is described as "scarce and local" in some areas like Ecuador. The species is present in numerous protected areas.