Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Spinetail
Synallaxis unirufa
Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa) is a member of the Furnariidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 17.9 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 Passeriformes
- Family Furnariidae Ovenbirds
- Genus Synallaxis
- Species unirufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous Spinetail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa) is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Venezuela to c Peru.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.7 cm and a tail of around 8.9 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 210,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Spinetail?
The Rufous Spinetail is a small bird that weighs around 17.9 g.
Where does the Rufous Spinetail live?
The Rufous Spinetail is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Venezuela to c Peru, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous Spinetail belong to?
The Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa) belongs to the Furnariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous Spinetail eat?
The Rufous Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Spinetail migrate?
The Rufous Spinetail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous 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 Rufous Spinetail make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous 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 Rufous Spinetail's range?
The Rufous Spinetail has a mapped global range of about 210,000 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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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Furnariidae
A field guide to the Furnariidae family — 321 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.