spinetail
spinetail Lexical Profile
spinetail Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of numerous small passerine birds of the ovenbird family (Furnariidae), native primarily to Central and South America, characterized by stiff, pointed tail feathers that lack webbing at the tips.
"The ornithologist carefully documented the nesting habits of the pale-breasted spinetail in the dense thickets of the Brazilian cerrado."
Any of several fast-flying swifts or swiftlets, such as those in the genus Hirundapus, known for having stiff, bare shafts protruding from their tail feathers to brace themselves against vertical surfaces.
"As dusk fell, a flock of spinetails darted swiftly through the canopy to roost in the hollows of the ancient trees."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in English as a compound of 'spine' + 'tail', referring to the distinctively stiff, bare shafts extending past the webbing on the birds' tail feathers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.