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Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini Scientific name definitions

Philip Chantler and Peter F. D. Boesman
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated October 2, 2015

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

15 cm; 39·5 g. Large spinetail with remarkably short, square tail with rectrix spines up to 6 mm beyond webs, large bulging head, long-winged appearance and typical spinetail wing shape  , with especially bulging secondaries and hooked outer wing . Black-brown upperparts broken by narrow white rump band; grey throat and black flanks  , especially noticeable on rear flanks, contrast with lightly streaked white underparts  .

Systematics History

Birds from S Cameroon (Bipindi) described as a geographical race, brevicauda, but considered undiagnosable. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

E Sierra Leone and Liberia to Ghana, and SW Nigeria to extreme N Angola (Cabinda); Bioko I; also extreme E Congo through N DRCongo and SW Central African Republic to W Uganda.

Habitat

Restricted to rainforest zone, where forest lakes seem to be preferred habitat to feed over. Adjoining secondary growth and plantations sometimes visited. Original habitat intraforest riverine swamps with large trees, but increasingly occupies forest edge and clearings near water.

Movement

Resident throughout much of range, but Liberian data suggest some migration with absence during rains in SE. May be transequatorial migrant.

Diet and Foraging

Flying ants and smaller numbers of termites and small beetles recorded; also 200 leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) and 100 termites in 1 stomach. During day often feeds at great height, while crepuscular feeding usually at low level. Often with sympatric spinetails, especially Rhaphidura sabini. Gregarious, up to 40 recorded together, though smaller flocks more typical.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Unknown.

Breeding

Although not proven, considerable circumstantial evidence points to nesting in hollow trees; no nest found to date. Enlarged gonads on Bioko Jul, in Zaire Jul, Sept and Nov; flights and tree hollow visits Liberia Feb–Apr; postulated laying dates in Zaire Apr and Jul, Gabon c. Aug–Sept; watched leaving hollow tree with feathers belonging to this species at base, with eggshell, Avakubi, Zaire, Apr; believed to be feeding young in hollow stump Zaire, Jul, and among cavities in dead trees Gabon, Oct. No further information available.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Uncommon throughout most of range. In Liberia, where uncommon, found in all studied forests, usually in groups of 5 birds or fewer though up to 15 individuals sometimes recorded. Uncommon in Ghana, where not recorded until 1960s, though uncertain whether this reflects range expansion or that species was previously overlooked; recorded in Bia National Park and Subri River Forest Reserve. In Sierra Leone, known only from environs of of Gola Forest, where only recently found to occur. Occurs in Taï Forest National Park.
Distribution of the Cassin's Spinetail - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Cassin's Spinetail

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Chantler, P. and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Cassin's Spinetail (Neafrapus cassini), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.casspi1.01
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