White-whiskered Spinetail Synallaxis candei Scientific name definitions

The combination of black cap, black face mask, and white ‘whiskers’ and chin framing a black throat render the White-whiskered Spinetail one of the most striking and aberrant of the Synallaxis spinetails. This species inhabitats the tropical deciduous forests and arid lowland scrub that straddle the northern portion of the Colombian-Venezuelan border; the columnar cacti and thorny scrub of this habitat is a departure from the typical humid habitats that most species of Synallaxis inhabitat. The three subspecies of the White-whiskered Spinetail form a rough gradient from west to east in size of black throat, extent of white whiskers and rufous supercilium, with the westernmost populations having the darkest head, and the easternmost populations having the largest white throat patches.

15–17 cm; 14–16 g. Distinctive  , boldly patterned spinetail  . Nominate race has blackish face, broad rufous super­cilium from just above eye back to nape; crown dark grey, many feathers blackish-centred, giving mottled look; hindneck to uppertail-coverts bright rufous; wings bright rufous, remiges with dark fuscous tips; tail long, 10 rectrices, shafts slightly stiffened, inner pairs almost square-tipped, feathers bright rufous, distal third dark fuscous; throat black, sharply outlined by broad white malar area and chin; breast and sides bright rufous, flanks slightly paler, belly white, undertail-coverts dull pale rufous; iris dark brown; upper mandible black, lower mandible black or blackish with ill-defined yellowish at lower centre; tarsus and toes slate-grey to blue-grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Race <em>venezuelensis</em> has white throat, black restricted to band on lower throat, plumage generally paler, tail more sharply bicoloured; atrigularis lacks supercilium, has malar area and chin flecked greyish-white, back brown, base of tail darker, more dusky chestnut, breast duller, flanks more olivaceous.

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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.

Arthropods. Usually forages in pairs . Gleans items mainly from ground beneath shrubs, but also from twigs and branches within 2 m of ground.

Song  a nasal “a-dít-dít-du”, often repeated, rather similar to voice of S. unirufa. Call a nasal “paa-pip”, extended to long nasal scold when disturbed; alarm a nasal “naaaa”.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Caribbean Colombia and Venezuela EBA. Fairly common to common throughout most of range. No data on densities, but in Venezuela, and presumably elsewhere, populations may be quite large in favourable areas.