Cranioleuca albicapilla
The Creamy-crested Spinetail (*Cranioleuca albicapilla*) is a captivating small passerine endemic to the high Andes of southern Peru, renowned for its distinctive plumage. Measuring approximately 15-16 cm (6 inches) in length and weighing around 12-16 grams, it sports a truly eye-catching creamy-white crown, which serves as its primary field mark and contrasts sharply with its rufous-brown back, wings, and long, graduated tail. Its underparts are a pale grayish-white, subtly buffier on the fl...
This species primarily inhabits high-elevation montane scrub, elfin forest, Polylepis woodlands, and humid temperate forest edges within the Andes. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 2,800 to 4,000 meters (approximately 9,200 to 13,100 feet).
Its diet consists primarily of arthropods, including various insects and spiders, which it gleans actively from foliage, bark, and mossy crevices.
The Creamy-crested Spinetail is a highly active diurnal species, constantly foraging through the undergrowth and mid-story of its montane habitat. It employs an insectivorous gleaning strategy, moving swiftly and acrobatically, often hanging upside down to probe bark, moss, and foliage for arthro...
The Creamy-crested Spinetail is an obligate resident of the high Andes of southern Peru, exhibiting a restricted and specific geographic distribution. Its range primarily spans from the regions of Ayacucho and ApurÃmac eastward through Cuzco to Puno, extending south towards the Bolivian border. T...
Least Concern
- Its creamy-white crown gives it a distinctive "frosted" appearance, making it easily identifiable among other spinetails. - This species is an Andean endemic, found only within a relatively restricted band of high-altitude mountains in southern Peru. - Despite its name, the "crest" refers to a ...