About Cinnycerthia unirufa (Lafresnaye, 1840)
The rufous wren, scientifically named Cinnycerthia unirufa (Lafresnaye, 1840), reaches a length of approximately 16.5 cm (6.5 in). Individuals across most of Colombia and Ecuador are uniformly dark chestnut-brown, with faint blackish barring on the wings and tail that is hard to spot in wild field conditions. The lores are also blackish. Birds from northeastern Colombia and Venezuela have a slightly paler coloration, most noticeably on the crown. The rufous wren may be mistaken for the sepia-brown wren (Cinnycerthia olivascens), but that species is less rufous in tone and has bolder barring on its wings and tail. Another similar species is the rufous spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa), which has a longer tail, no barring on its wings and tail, and completely different vocalizations and habits. In terms of distribution and habitat, the rufous wren inhabits montane regions of northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and southwestern Venezuela, most commonly at elevations between 2,200 and 3,400 metres (7,200 and 11,200 ft). It lives in dense undergrowth within tropical moist forests.
