Cranioleuca antisiensis
The Line-cheeked Spinetail (Cranioleuca antisiensis) is a captivating, medium-sized Furnariid endemic to the high Andes, typically measuring 14-16 cm in length with a weight of 12-18 grams. Its plumage is generally a drab olive-brown, but distinct field marks include a rufous-chestnut crown and rump, and a pale buffy supercilium contrasting sharply with a darker cheek, giving it its namesake "line-cheeked" appearance. Both sexes are monomorphic, sharing the same subtle yet diagnostic colorati...
Primarily inhabits humid montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and adjacent secondary growth or shrubby areas, often with a strong association with bamboo thickets. Found at elevations typically ranging from 2,000 to 3,800 meters above sea level.
Feeds primarily on insects and other small arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders, which it gleans meticulously from foliage, bark surfaces, and bromeliads.
The Line-cheeked Spinetail is a diurnal and generally inconspicuous bird, often foraging actively within the dense understory and canopy where it gleans arthropods from leaves, bark, and mosses. It typically forages solitarily or in pairs, but frequently joins mixed-species flocks, particularly i...
The Line-cheeked Spinetail is a resident endemic to the Andes Mountains of South America, exhibiting a largely continuous but disjunct distribution across its range. Its core distribution extends from the Central and Eastern Andes of Colombia, southward through the Andes of Ecuador and Peru, and ...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Cranioleuca' is derived from ancient Greek words 'kranion' (skull) and 'leukos' (white), possibly referring to the pale streaking on the heads of some species, though less prominent in this particular spinetail. - Its species name 'antisiensis' directly refers to the Andes, the ...