Cranioleuca albiceps
The Light-crowned Spinetail, *Cranioleuca albiceps*, is a small, active passerine endemic to the high-altitude Andean cloud forests of South America. Measuring approximately 15-16 cm (6-6.3 inches) in length, its most distinctive feature is a striking white crown that contrasts sharply with its olive-brown back and bright rufous-chestnut wings and tail. Underparts are a soft grayish, transitioning to buffy on the flanks. This crisp white crown, combined with the vibrant rufous tail and flight...
Inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests, often near bamboo stands or at the treeline, primarily at elevations between 2,000 and 3,600 meters.
Feeds primarily on small arthropods, including insects and spiders, which it gleans actively from vegetation, bark, and moss.
The Light-crowned Spinetail is an agile and restless bird, typically observed alone, in pairs, or as an active participant in mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly during the non-breeding season. It forages constantly, gleaning small arthropods from moss-covered branches, foliage, bark crev...
The Light-crowned Spinetail is endemic to the humid montane forests of the Andes in south-central Peru and western Bolivia. Its primary range extends from the Department of Cusco and Puno in Peru southeastward through the Cordillera Oriental and adjacent ranges of Bolivia, including La Paz, Cocha...
Least Concern
- The "spinetail" in its name refers to the stiffened, pointed tips of its tail feathers, a common feature among members of its genus. - Despite its striking white crown, this bird can be surprisingly difficult to spot in the dense understory of its cloud forest habitat. - It is a frequent associ...