Dark-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albigularis Scientific name definitions

The Dark-breasted Spinetail is common from the lower tropical zone to 1,800m, ranging from the east slope of the Andes and into Amazonian Brazil. It is often found foraging secretively in reedy habitats near stream edges, or on river islands in shrubby habitats or woodland edges. Generally dark gray, the Dark-breasted Spinetail has rufous wing coverts and a rufous crown, from forehead to nape. It has a whitish throat and a narrow black bib between the throat and breast, but during displays, it raises its throat feathers making them appear black. The gray breast fades to a whitish belly and buff vent, and it has a relatively short, olive tail. The subspecies S. a. rodolphei is found in the northwestern corner of the species’ range, and is generally darker than the nominate race.

15–16 cm; 14–18 g. Typical Synallaxis with contrasting crown and wings, dark throat patch. Nominate race has dark brownish-grey forecrown, supercilium and face ; hindcrown and hindneck dark rufous, back  to uppertail-coverts olive-brown; dark rufous shoulder  with duller paler edges to greater wing-coverts; remiges dark brownish; tail long, graduated  , 10 rectrices rather pointed, dull brown; throat  greyish-white with irregular sooty flecks, feathers of central lower throat blackish  with pale grey margins; breast  and sides dull brownish-grey, blending to paler belly (nearly white in centre), browner flanks and undertail-coverts; iris reddish-brown to brown or pale brown (source of variation unknown); upper mandible black to dark grey, lower mandible greyish to blue-grey; tarsus and toes greenish-grey to greenish-yellow. Sexes alike. Juvenile lacks contrasting crown, has paler upperparts than adult, throat patch less distinct and paler, underparts mostly uniform dark ochraceous. Race rodolphei is darker, especially below, whitish centre of belly contrasts more with rest of underparts, back also slightly darker.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Most frequent vocalization a hurried “chéép, du-du-du” or “whít, di-di-di”, often repeated  for long periods; occasionally gives short chatter while perched in relatively exposed place.