The rusty-headed spinetail is a Near Threatened species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
Region
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Typical Environment
Found in humid montane forests and their edges, including secondary growth, dense thickets, and bamboo patches. It prefers tangled understory vegetation, vine-laden slopes, and areas with Chusquea bamboo. Often occurs near ravines and streamside scrub where cover is thick. Its range is highly localized and fragmented within the massif.
Altitude Range
1800–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to Colombia’s isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, this spinetail keeps to dense undergrowth and is often detected by its accelerating, rattling song. It is assessed as Near Threatened due to ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation. Like many spinetails, it builds a bulky stick nest with a long entrance tunnel, usually placed in dense shrubs or vine tangles.
Temperament
skulking and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense cover
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes with dependent young. Pairs are likely monogamous and defend small territories year-round. Nests are bulky stick structures with a long entrance tunnel, placed low to mid-level in dense shrubs or vine tangles.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A fast, accelerating series of sharp chips or trills that becomes a rattling chatter, often delivered from concealed perches. Calls include dry ticks and scolds used during pair contact and alarm.
