Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Furnariidae Scientific name Cranioleuca dissita | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Genus Cranioleuca Rank Subspecies | |
Similar Rusty‑backed spinetail, Cranioleuca, Light‑crowned spinetail, Baron's spinetail, Speckled spinetail | ||
Coiba spinetail foraging 27 feb 2009
The Coiba spinetail, Cranioleuca dissita, is a Furnariid endemic to Coiba Island, Panama. This primarily arboreal species is fairly common within its range. Despite this, it may be considered vulnerable due to its small range. It is not rated by IUCN.
Coiba spinetails are a ruddy brown with olive-brown underparts, a long rufous tail, rufous wings and crown, and a gray-streaked brown head. They forage either singularly or in pairs in dense tangles of vines. Sometimes it flocks with other species of bird. It rarely comes out into the open.
Historically considered a subspecies of the South American rusty-backed spinetail, The NACC of the AOU recognized the species status for the Coiba spinetail based on differences in habitat, voice, and plumage, and the large distance between the range of it and the rusty-backed spinetail.