Asthenes palpebralis
The Eye-ringed Thistletail, Asthenes palpebralis, is a reclusive and enigmatic passerine endemic to the high-altitude Andean scrublands. This small, long-tailed Furnariid measures approximately 16-18 cm in length, including its graduated, spiny tail which can account for half its body length. Its plumage is generally cryptic, dominated by dull olive-brown to rufous-brown on the upperparts, contrasting with a paler, often streaked or dusky wash on the underparts. The most distinctive field mar...
Found exclusively in high-altitude montane scrub, puna grassland edges, and rocky slopes with dense, often thorny, vegetation. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 meters (9,800 to 14,700 feet) above sea level.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small arthropods including beetles, spiders, caterpillars, and other invertebrates. It forages by gleaning from foliage and probing bark in dense scrub.
The Eye-ringed Thistletail is a highly active but secretive bird, often seen singly or in pairs, typically foraging during daylight hours. It moves agilely through the dense undergrowth, gleaning insects and other small arthropods from leaves, twigs, and bark. Its characteristic foraging techniqu...
The Eye-ringed Thistletail is narrowly endemic to the central Andes of South America, primarily found in specific regions of Peru and Bolivia. In Peru, its distribution is concentrated in the eastern cordilleras of departments such as Cusco, Puno, and Ayacucho, often in isolated montane valleys. ...
Least Concern
- The 'Thistletail' in its name refers to the often spiny, graduated tail feathers characteristic of its genus, which help it balance while navigating dense, thorny vegetation. - Despite its drab plumage, the prominent white eye-ring is a critical field mark, often the only visible feature in its...