The white-lored spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Region
South-central South America
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, especially along major river systems and seasonally flooded plains. Favors dense river-edge scrub, gallery forest borders, vine tangles, and second-growth thickets. It is frequent in the Pantanal and Cerrado gallery forests and extends into adjacent Amazonian edges. Often stays near water and in disturbed or regenerating habitats with thick understory.
Altitude Range
0–800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A member of the ovenbird family (Furnariidae), the white-lored spinetail builds bulky stick nests with side entrances, often placed in dense thickets. Its name refers to the conspicuous white patch in front of the eye. It forages low in tangled vegetation, using its long, slightly spiny tail for balance. Often seen in pairs, it can occasionally join mixed-species flocks along riverine scrub.
Temperament
skulking and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and darting
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs that maintain territories year-round. Nests are bulky stick structures placed in dense shrubs or vine tangles. Pairs communicate frequently with duets and maintain close contact while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a fast, dry trill that often accelerates into a rattling sequence, sometimes given antiphonally by a pair. Calls include sharp ticks and chatter notes from within dense cover.
Plumage
Overall rufous-brown with a grayish head and face, contrasting white lore, and warmer rufous wings and tail. Underparts are buffy to grayish with subtle mottling. Tail is long and somewhat spiny-tipped, typical of spinetails.
Diet
Primarily takes small arthropods such as insects and spiders. It gleans from twigs, vine tangles, and dead leaf clusters, probing into curled leaves. Occasionally makes short sallies to snatch prey but mostly forages by gleaning and probing.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory along river margins, gallery forest edges, and secondary growth. Often stays 0.5–3 m above ground within thick shrubs and vine tangles.
