Asthenes huancavelicae
The Pale-tailed Canastero (Asthenes huancavelicae) is a medium-sized Furnariid, measuring approximately 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length and weighing around 20-25 grams. Its plumage is characterized by dull brownish upperparts, a paler, grayish-buff belly, and a distinctive pale, rufous-edged tail that gives the species its common name. A subtle yellowish-buff throat patch, fine streaking on the breast, and a faint supercilium are key identification marks. Taxonomically, it belongs to the ...
This species primarily inhabits high-altitude arid puna grasslands, monte scrub, and rocky slopes, particularly favoring areas with dense *Chuquiraga* bushes and other thorny shrubs, between 2,800 and 4,600 meters (9,200-15,100 feet) above sea level.
The diet consists mainly of arthropods, including various insects (beetles, ants, larvae) and spiders, which it gleans from vegetation and the ground.
The Pale-tailed Canastero is a diurnal and rather secretive bird, often observed foraging alone or in pairs. It primarily forages by gleaning insects from the foliage of dense bushes and the ground, frequently moving through the lower strata of vegetation or hopping among rocks. Territorial behav...
The Pale-tailed Canastero is endemic to the inter-Andean dry valleys and high puna grasslands of central Peru. Its range is highly restricted, primarily encompassing the departments of Huancavelica and Ayacucho, with some records extending marginally into the southern part of JunÃn department. It...
Near Threatened
- The Pale-tailed Canastero is a true endemic, found only in a small, specific region of the Peruvian Andes. - Its scientific name, *huancavelicae*, directly references the Huancavelica Department in Peru, where it was first described. - This species belongs to the 'ovenbird' family (Furnariidae)...