Vilcabamba Thistletail (Asthenes vilcabambae)

Identification & Behavior: ~18.5 cm (7.2 in). The Vilcabamba Thistletail has brown upperparts and crown. The underparts and superciliary are grayish-brown. It has an orange chin patch.  The sides of the neck and upper breast have a poorly defined scaly effect.  The tail is very long and strongly graduated with wispy tips. It forages in humid scrub and forest edges generally near treeline. It is similar to the Azara’s Spinetail but is distinguished by uniform rufous brown upperparts and crown.

Status: Endemic. The Vilcabamba Thistletail is uncommon in humid scrub and elfin forest on both sides of the Apurimac Valley at elevations ranging between 2800-3600 m.

Name in Spanish: Cola-Cardo de Vilcabamba.

Sub-species: Vilcabamba Thistletail (Asthenes vilcabambae ayacuchensis), (Vaurie, Weske and Terborgh), 1972.  Andes of S Peru (N Ayacucho).
(Asthenes vilcabambae vilcabambae), (Vaurie, Weske and Terborgh), 1972. Vilcabamba Mts, in S Peru.

Meaning of Name: Asthenes: Gr. a= a negative prefix and sthenos= power. asthenes= insignificant, powerless. vilcabambae: Originating from or associated with the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, Cuzco, Peru.

See more of the Family Furnariidae