Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Mottled Spinetail
Telacanthura ussheri
Mottled Spinetail (Telacanthura ussheri) — Swifts of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mottled Spinetail (Telacanthura ussheri) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 32.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Telacanthura
- Species ussheri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mottled Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Mottled Spinetail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mottled Spinetail (Telacanthura ussheri) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.6 g, with a wing length of about 14.6 cm and a tail of around 3.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mottled Spinetail?
The Mottled Spinetail is a small bird that weighs around 32.6 g.
Where does the Mottled Spinetail live?
The Mottled Spinetail is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mottled Spinetail belong to?
The Mottled Spinetail (Telacanthura ussheri) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Mottled Spinetail eat?
The Mottled Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mottled Spinetail migrate?
The Mottled Spinetail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mottled Spinetail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Mottled Spinetail make?
1 real field recording of the Mottled Spinetail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mottled Spinetail's range?
The Mottled Spinetail has a mapped global range of about 5.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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