Black Spinetail
NameBlack Spinetail
Common NameBlack Spinetail
Scientific NameChaetura spinicaudus
FamilyApodidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)11
Weight (g)12.5
Plumage DetailsEntirely sooty blackish plumage, often appearing slightly paler on the rump and belly. It has a short, square tail with stiff, projecting feather shafts, giving it a 'spiny' appearance.
Vocalization / CallProduces high-pitched, rapid, chattering or twittering calls, often given in flight, sometimes described as a 'tsee-tsee-tsee' or 'chip-chip-chip'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in Central and South America, ranging from Honduras south through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Brazil and Bolivia.
Identifying Featuressmall size, sooty black plumage, rapid, erratic flight, short, square tail with projecting spines, aerial foraging
Description
The Black Spinetail is a small, dark swift characterized by its rapid, erratic flight as it forages for insects in the air. It is typically found soaring over tropical forests and clearings, often in flocks.
