Sao Tome Spinetail
Zoonavena thomensis
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="zoonavena-thomensis"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/zoonavena-thomensis/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/zoonavena-thomensis/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/zoonavena-thomensis/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="zoonavena-thomensis"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-sized spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy. Colonial nester. Restricted range on two small islands. Classified as Near Threatened.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 21.9 cm | 8.6 in |
| Weight | 8.0 g | 0.28 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Tiny; dark blackish-brown upperparts; white rump patch; pale whitish underparts; short spiny tail; São Tomé Island endemic; very similar to Madagascar Spinetail but restricted to Gulf of Guinea; one of Africa's smallest swifts.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Endemic to São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Resident in lowland forest and forest edge. Small island population vulnerable to habitat loss.
Diet & Feeding
Aerial insectivore feeding on tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders in rapid powerful aerial pursuit.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CP.
Clutch Size
2-4
Sound
Song
Sharp, high-frequency twittering with staccato clicking notes; rapid-fire chips strung together in buzzy aerial sequences.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Zoonavena |
| Species | Zoonavena thomensis |
Distribution
Sao Tome Spinetail has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Sao Tome Spinetail eat?
Where does the Sao Tome Spinetail live?
Is the Sao Tome Spinetail endangered?
How does the Sao Tome Spinetail nest?
What does the Sao Tome Spinetail sound like?
How big is the Sao Tome Spinetail?
What order and family does the Sao Tome Spinetail belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family