A small ovenbird (furnariid) of 16 to 17 cm with olive-brown upperparts and grayish underparts. The forehead and cheeks are a lighter gray, which gives it its name. The crown is markedly rufous and it has a black throat patch. The tail is reddish chestnut. The bill is short and dark. It inhabits the understory of the Chaco woodland and the edges of the gallery forest, being more arboreal and less tied to water than the slaty spinetail.
Behaviour
Active in the understory. Its song is a repeated "piu-chui" or "si-chi," similar to that of other spinetails. It moves through the low and middle strata of the woodland, looking for insects among the branches and the leaf litter. It builds the typical fiber nest with a tubular entrance of its family.
How and when to see it
Year round in the understory of the woodland. Portal Galarza, San Antonio and Mburucuyá.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where sooty-fronted spinetail has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where sooty-fronted spinetail lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Gaucho Argentino
Horseback journeys across a network of refuges in Iberá. Multi-day rides with overnight…★ 5.0 - Jurassic Plant - Night Tour
The only carnivorous-plant garden in Argentina and a pioneer in Latin America. A guided…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Guided hiking. Guided visit to museums, historic sites, chapels and trails of the town…★ 5.0 - Guyra Wild Guides - Birding
Birdwatching tour and photo safari with specialized ornithologist guides. Yamil and…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameSooty-fronted Spinetail
- Scientific nameSynallaxis frontalis
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
Other species of the Iberá
Discover all the wildlife of the Iberá
More than 250 species with photos, profiles and the gateways where you can see them. Map, providers and trip planner. Free, no download needed.
Open Iberá Experience