Bahia Spinetail Synallaxis cinerea Scientific name definitions

Described as recently as the mid 1990s, the Bahia Spinetail has spent most of its short ‘life’ in nomenclatural turmoil. Originally named for a American ornithologist with close associations to Brazil, Bret Whitney, the authors of the new name subsequently considered that they had erred in overlooking an earlier available name, Synallaxis cinerea, but thereafter this was demonstrated to be incorrect, and Synallaxis whitneyi has been ‘revitalized’ as the correct name for the species. Considered globally threatened (Vulnerable), the Bahia Spinetail is known from just a handful of localities in the state, but has also subsequently been discovered in the immediately adjacent part of the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. The species is endemic to montane Atlantic Forest, but seems to be tolerant of second growth. Its vocalizations and plumage clearly demonstrate a close relationship to the abundant Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla) of the southern Atlantic Forest, and to some extent the Bahia Spinetail is intermediate between the latter species and the northeastern endemic Pinto’s Spinetail (Synallaxis infuscata).

15–17 cm; 16–21 g. Has broad cinnamon-buff supercilium  contrasting with brownish-grey lores and auriculars; crown and hindneck bright orange-rufous, forehead slightly paler, contrasting rufescent brown back and uppertail-coverts; wings  mostly chestnut-brown; tail  strongly graduated, 8 rectrices, pointed, distal 1 cm somewhat disintegrated, chestnut; tiny chin spot tawny, rest of chin and throat whitish-grey with indistinct grey streaking, underparts  dark greyish; iris reddish-brown to dark brown; bill dark grey, sometimes paler grey base; tarsus and toes olivaceous to dark grey. Distinguished from very similar S. ruficapilla mainly by dark greyish, rather than light brown, underparts. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed.

E Brazil (S Bahia, NE Minas Gerais).

Arthropods. Three stomachs contained two species of flat-bug (Aradidae), three species of ant, five of Coleoptera (including Adephaga larvae, and Curculionidae), oothecae of orthopterans, and a small millipede (Diplopoda). Usually forages in pairs. Prey obtained by gleaning and probing dead leaves, stems and small branches, mostly within 1–2 m of ground, occasionally almost on ground and as high as 5 m up.

Song a double-noted “di-réét, di-réét”, constantly repeated  by members of pair; scold a spitting trill, similar in quality to that of S. ruficapilla but shorter; contact call a sharp, loud note, like first note of scold.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Previously listed as Endangered, then Vulnerable. Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Mountains EBA. Fairly common to common, but declining as a result of habitat destruction. Known only from fragments of the vanishing humid Atlantic Forest of the mountains of S and interior Bahia (Serra de Ouricana (5 Pacheco, J. F., and L. P. Gonzaga (1995) A new species of Synallaxis of the ruficapilla/infuscata complex from eastern Brazil (Passeriformes: Furnariidae). Ararajuba 3: 3-11. Close ), Serra das Lontras/Javi (6 Silveira, L. F., P. F. Develey, J. F. Pacheco, and B. M. Whitney (2005). Avifauna of the Serra das Lontras–Javi montane complex, Bahia, Brazil. Cotinga 24:45–54. Close ), Serra Bonita, Chapada Diamantina (7 Parrini, R., M. A. Raposo, J. F. Pacheco, A. M. P. Carvalhães, T. A. Melo-Júnior, P. S. M. Fonseca, and J. C. Minns (1999). Birds of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Cotinga 11:86–95. Close ) ), and NE Minas Gerais (near Almenara); with increasing fieldwork, further localities are becoming known. In the absence of robust estimates, total population put at 10,000–20,000 mature individuals BirdLife International (2017) Species factsheet: Synallaxis cinerea. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 03/05/2017. , ten times the size of previous estimate. It is no longer thought to be as scarce as had originally been feared and its threat status has therefore progressively improved as new sites are identified; it was uplisted to Near Threatened in 2016. Nevertheless, most of the remaining habitat fragments are subjected to degradation by cattle grazing and colonization projects; population in Minas Gerais is threatened by a land-reform colonization project. Present in Chapada Diamantina National Park, but this park is not adequately protected (7 Parrini, R., M. A. Raposo, J. F. Pacheco, A. M. P. Carvalhães, T. A. Melo-Júnior, P. S. M. Fonseca, and J. C. Minns (1999). Birds of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Cotinga 11:86–95. Close ).