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Slaty Spinetail
A species of Synallaxis spinetails Scientific name : Synallaxis brachyura Genus : Synallaxis spinetails
Slaty Spinetail, A species of Synallaxis spinetails
Botanical name: Synallaxis brachyura
Genus: Synallaxis spinetails
Content
Description
![Slaty Spinetail (Synallaxis brachyura)](/wiki-image/1080/153775651898261508.jpeg)
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Description
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The slaty spinetail or slaty castlebuilder, (Synallaxis brachyura), is a passerine bird which breeds in the tropical New World from northern Honduras to western Ecuador and east-central Brazil. It is a member of the South American bird family Furnariidae, a group in which many species build elaborate clay nests, giving rise to the English name for the family of "ovenbirds". However, the slaty spinetail constructs a bulky spherical stick nest 36x43 cm in size, with a long tubular entrance, 0.4–4.5 m high in a shrub or vine covered tree. It lays two or three greenish white eggs. This species is a widespread and common resident breeder in lowlands and up to 1500 m altitude in a range of scrubby habitats, including second growth, road and river edges, and overgrown pasture. The slaty spinetail is typically 15 cm long, and weighs 18.5 g. It is a slender bird with a long, pointed wispy tail. The plumage is mainly dark grey-brown becoming dark grey on the head. The crown and shoulder patches are rich rufous. Sexes are similar, but young birds are duller and browner with a yellowish chin. The slaty spinetail is an insectivore which is difficult to see as it forages for beetles, caterpillars and other prey deep in tangled thickets, but may be located by its hard chu-chu-chrrrr call.
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Size
16 cm
Feeding Habits
Slaty Spinetail primarily consumes insects like beetles, true bugs, fly larvae, and moths, as well as spiders and spider eggs. It forages in dense vegetation, adeptly seeking food among the leaves and branches. This species is also known to supplement its diet with seeds and other arthropods. Slaty Spinetail exhibits a preference for a variety of small prey captured through active foraging.
Habitat
The slaty Spinetail typically inhabits second-growth scrub, riparian thickets, and the underbrush at the edges of montane and tropical lowland evergreen forests. This bird species also favours overgrown clearings and thorn-scrub, as well as the peripheries of swamps. Additionally, slaty Spinetail can be observed in gardens, adapting to more urbanized environments. Geographically, the slaty Spinetail is found in broad regions, generally at elevations up to 1400 meters, but may reside as high as 2000 meters in some locales.
Dite type
Insectivorous
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![Slaty Spinetail (Synallaxis brachyura)](/wiki-image/1080/153775651898261508.jpeg)
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![Slaty Spinetail (Synallaxis brachyura)](/wiki-image/1080/153775651898261508.jpeg)
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Scientific Classification
![](/wiki-static/name/4235f29e1de7f26452173dd4a37c7712/website/img/icon/icon_arrow_description@3x.png)
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Ovenbirds Genus
Synallaxis spinetails Species
Slaty Spinetail