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SOOTY-FRONTED SPINETAIL Synallaxis frontalis
Spinetails are a group of essentially similar skulkers that produce simple, easily-learnt vocalisations, far more useful in identification than the subtle plumage differences. This is the most widespread species in scrubby habitats, even occurring in urban gardens. The repetitive chi-klee call of this species is probably the origin of the generic Spanish name for Spinetails "Pijui", but creates confusion with the Spix´s Spinetail that was formerly called Chicli Spinetail, though its call is quite different!
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE2856PH) Adult, Madrejón, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith August 2011).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE2857PH) Adult in alert posture with crown feathers raised, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith November 2006).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE2858PH) Adult ventral, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith May 2010).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE2859PH) Adult dark individual, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith September 2005).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE2860PH) Same individual upperwing (Paul Smith September 2005).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE2861PH) Adult pale individual, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith July 2005).
VIDEO A - (FPAVE2862VI) Adult, Madrejón, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Paul Smith August 2011).
VIDEO B - (FPAVE2863VI) Adult calling in response to playback, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith May 2010).
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Synallaxis frontalis
1 (FPAVE2864RE) Call recorded Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith April 2007).
Click the link to hear the call. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website www.xeno-canto.com - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.