White-bellied Spinetail (Mazaria propinqua)

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The White-bellied Spinetail has a gray-brown mantle and grayish head. The folded wing and tail are rufous. The throat in the adult is black and whitish in the juvenile. The Underparts are grayish with a pale or whitish center of the belly. It forages in tall grass that grows at the edges of large rivers in Amazonia. It is similar to the Dark-breasted Spinetail but is distinguished by a grayer overall plumage, by not having a rufous crown, and by specific association with tall grass along large Amazonian Rivers. Also, see Plain-crowned Spinetail, which never has black on the throat and favors a different habitat type.

Status: The White-bellied Spinetail is uncommon along large Amazonian Rivers. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Cola-Espina de Vientre Blanco.

Sub-species: White-bellied Spinetail (Mazaria propinqua), Pelzeln, 1859.

Meaning of Name: Mazaria: In honor of Juan Mazar Barnett (1975-2012) Argentinian ornithologist. propinqua: L. prope, pro= near, like. Propinquus= related, similar, neighboring.

Formerly known as Synallaxis propinqua (2018).

See more of the Family Furnariidae