Synallaxis tithys
The Blackish-headed Spinetail (Synallaxis tithys) is a distinctive member of the Furnariidae family, endemic to the dry forests of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Measuring approximately 16 cm in length and weighing around 15-20 grams, this small passerine is easily identified by its striking sooty blackish head and throat, which contrasts sharply with its dark olive-brown upperparts and slightly paler grayish-brown underparts. A prominent rufous-chestnut wing panel and a reddish-...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid scrub, dry deciduous forests, and dense thorny thickets, often near ephemeral or permanent watercourses. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on small arthropods, particularly insects, which it gleans from dense foliage and twigs within its scrubby habitat.
This diurnal species is generally secretive, often skulking low in dense undergrowth, making it more frequently heard than seen. Foraging occurs through gleaning small arthropods from foliage and twigs within its dense vegetated habitat, typically alone or in pairs. Blackish-headed Spinetails are...
The Blackish-headed Spinetail is endemic to a highly restricted region of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. In Ecuador, its distribution encompasses the provinces of Manabí, Guayas, El Oro, and Loja. Southward, its range extends into Peru, covering the departments of Tumbes, Piura, and ...
Near Threatened
- The Blackish-headed Spinetail is an 'ovenbird,' part of the Furnariidae family, famed for building elaborate, often dome-shaped or oven-like nests, a trait it shares with many relatives. - Its bulky stick nest, typically fortified with thorns, includes a narrow tunnel entrance, a clever adaptat...