Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura aegithaloides)

Identification & Behavior: ~16.5 cm (6.4 in). The Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail has a plain/unmarked grayish-brown mantle. The crown is brownish streaked with black. The sides of the head, neck, and upper breast are streaked with whitish. The rest of the underparts are whitish or light brown without markings. The wing has a broad rufous band. It shows rufous on the folded wing. The tail is gray, very long, strongly graduated, and ends at a wispy fork. It forages in riparian scrub and edges of woodlands, as well as hedgerows and other scrub habitats. It is similar to the Streaked Tit-Spinetail but is distinguished by having a plain mantle.

Status: The Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail is uncommon on the west slope of southern Peru at elevations of nearly sea level up to 2000 m. It also occurs in the Titicaca basin where appears to be rare. The Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail also occurs in Bo and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Tijeral de Manto Llano.

Sub-species: Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura aegithaloides grisescens), Hellmayr, 1925.  Coastal slope of S Peru (Arequipa S to Tacna) and N Chile (Tarapacá S to Atacama).
(Leptasthenura aegithaloides berlepschi), E. Hartert, 1909.  Andes of S Peru (C Puno, E Tacna), N Chile (Tarapacá, Antofagasta), W Bolivia (La Paz S to Potosí) and NW Argentina (Jujuy S to Catamarca).

Meaning of Name: Leptasthenura: Gr. leptos= thin and asthenes = weak and oura= tail. aegithaloides: Genus Aegithalos Hermann, 1804, long-tailed tit and oides= resembling. One that resembles a member of the genus Aegithalos.

See more of the Family Furnariidae