Updated January 25, 2007

Rasmus Boegh of Denmark kindly pointed out that these images show a Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomeus, not a Rusty-backed Spinetail Cranioleuca vulpina as I had originally thought.  Rusty-backed Spinetail should look considerably dingier on the underparts, but this is hard to judge without some comparative experience of the two species. Rasmus commented that "When seen against the light (where colours tend to be washed out and therefore are less reliable), the length of the bill is a better feature than the underparts. The three Certhiaxis Spinetails (Yellow-chinned, Red-and-White & the underscribed sp. from Rio Araguaia) are noticeably longer-billed than the Rusty-backed". My apologies for the error and many thanks again to Rasmus for the correction.

1. Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomeus, Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, August 24, 2003.  This bird and another of the same species were observed together in a fairly suburban area, in trees next to a large lake.  Note the uniform rufous upperparts, uniform drab gray underparts and gray supercilium. 

2. Yellow-chinned Spinetail C. cinnamomeus, Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, August 24, 2003.  Same individual as above.  Is that a hint of yellow on the chin of this bird?

 © Stephen J. Davies