Asthenes arequipae
The Dark-winged Canastero, Asthenes arequipae, is a slender, small passerine bird endemic to the high Andes, typically measuring 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 inches) in length and weighing between 12-16 grams. Its plumage features sandy-brown to tawny-brown upperparts, often with subtle rufous streaking, and notably darker primary and secondary flight feathers, which give the species its distinguishing common name. A pale supercilium contrasts with a darker loral stripe, while a prominent tawny-orange t...
This species primarily inhabits arid puna grasslands, high-altitude scrublands, and rocky slopes, often favoring areas with scattered bushes, cacti, or tussock grass. It is found at elevations typically ranging from 3,000 to 4,700 meters above sea level, occasionally lower or higher.
The Dark-winged Canastero is primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small arthropods, including insects and spiders. It forages by gleaning prey from the ground, low vegetation, and among rocks.
The Dark-winged Canastero is a highly active and generally diurnal bird, often observed foraging singly or in pairs, rarely joining mixed-species flocks. It employs a ground-gleaning foraging strategy, moving methodically through dense low vegetation, tussock grass, or rocky crevices to extract s...
The Dark-winged Canastero is a resident species found exclusively in the high-altitude Andean regions of southern Peru, northern Chile, western Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. In Peru, its distribution spans the departments of Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna. To the south, it extends into the ...
Least Concern
- This species is a high-altitude specialist, regularly found at elevations exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) in the Andes. - It was only recently recognized as a distinct species from the Creamy-breasted Canastero (*Asthenes dorbignyi*) due to subtle but consistent differences in plumage and ...