Andean Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola)

Identification & Behavior: ~16 cm (6.2 in). The Andean Tit-Spinetail has a dusky mantle streaked with whitish. The crown is brownish streaked with black. The underparts are also dusky heavily streaked with whitish to the lower belly. It has a distinctive broad and pale buffy superciliary. The wing has a broad brown band. It shows little rufous on the folded wing. The tail is gray, very long, strongly graduated, and ends at a wispy fork. It forages in Andean scrub and associated shrubbery. It is similar to the Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail but is distinguished by having a brownish crown streaked with black, broad superciliary, and heavily streaked underparts to the lower belly. Also, see Streaked Tit-Spinetail.

Status: The Andean Tit-Spinetail is uncommon on the west slope of the Andes and in the southern altiplano at elevations ranging between 3500-4200 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tijeral Andino.

Sub-species: Andean Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola peruviana), Chapman, 1919.

Meaning of Name: Leptasthenura: Gr. leptos= thin and asthenes = weak and oura= tail. andicola: L. Andium= Andes and cola, colere= dweller, to dwell.

See more of the Family Furnariidae