Spix's Spinetail

Spix's Spinetail

Synallaxis spixi

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Iguaçu National Park
33 Verified sightings at Iguaçu National Park From 2019 to 2026
682 Verified sightings across all 7 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Spix's Spinetail

Spix's spinetail (Synallaxis spixi), previously known as the chicli spinetail, is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Spix's spinetail is monotypic. However, what is now the cinereous-breasted spinetail (S. hypospodia) was previously treated as a subspecies of it. The two are considered sister species. The species' English name and specific epithet commemorate the German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix (1782-1826). The previous name "chicli spinetail" is supposedly onomatopeoic, but does not resemble the species' song. It is thought to have once been more properly applied to the sooty-fronted spinetail (S. frontalis).

Spix's spinetail is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long and weighs about 12 to 15 g (0.42 to 0.53 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a pale gray supercilium on an otherwise grayish brown face. Their crown is rufous and their back, rump and uppertail coverts dark brown. Their lesser wing coverts are rufous, their median and greater wing coverts dark brown with wide rufous edges, and their flight feathers... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Serra da Canastra National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~30%
2 Chapada Diamantina National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~20%
3 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~20%
4 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
5 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
6 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
7 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Spix's Spinetail in Iguaçu National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Spix's Spinetail sighting in Iguaçu National Park, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Spix's Spinetail in Iguaçu National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Spix's Spinetail in Iguaçu National Park in our monthly data.

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