Light-crowned Spinetail

About the Light-crowned Spinetail

The light-crowned spinetail (Cranioleuca albiceps) is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru. The light-crowned spinetail, the Marcapata spinetail (C. marcapatae), and the Vilcabamba spinetail (C. weskei) are sister species. The light-crowned spinetail has two subspecies, the nominate C. a. albiceps (D'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837) and C. a. discolor (Zimmer, JT, 1935).

The light-crowned spinetail is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 13 to 17 g (0.46 to 0.60 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark gray-brown supercilium with a black line above it and some blackish around the eye on an otherwise dark grayish brown face. Their forehead is ocraceous buff and their crown white to buffy or tawny. Their hindneck and sides of the neck have a dark brownish "collar". Their back is reddish chestnut that becomes duller and browner on the rump and uppertail coverts. Their tail is reddish chestnut; the feathers are pointed and their ends lack barbs giving a spiny appearance. Their wings are reddish chestnut with dark fuscous... Wikipedia →