S. spilonota S. salvadori Salpornis is a genus of bird which is usually included in the family Certhiidae.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses show them to be definitely within the Certhioidea but still leaves some uncertainty about their placement in relation to the genera Sitta, Tichodroma and Certhia.

While they appear similar to the treecreepers (Certhia), they do not use their tails to support them while climbing and some molecular evidence shows them to be closer to the nuthatches (Sitta)[2] while another study suggests a closer relation to the wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria.

[3] The generic name is derived from the Greek salpinktes for wren and ornis for bird.

Differences in size, calls and mitochondrial DNA sequences have supported the splitting of the African and Indian populations.