Andean Tit-Spinetail
NameAndean Tit-Spinetail
Common NameAndean Tit-Spinetail
Scientific NameLeptasthenura andicola
FamilyFurnariidae
Wingspan (cm)20
Length (cm)16
Weight (g)10.5
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are brown with fine white streaking on the crown and back. It features a prominent pale supercilium above a dark eyestripe, and whitish underparts with streaking on the breast and flanks. The tail is notably long, graduated, and spiny.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations typically consist of high-pitched, rapid trills and sharp, repeated 'tsit' or 'chip' notes.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsmountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the high Andes of South America, ranging from Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, to central Chile and western Argentina.
Identifying Featureslong graduated tail, streaked brown plumage, pale supercilium, small size
Description
The Andean Tit-Spinetail is a small, long-tailed passerine inhabiting high-altitude Andean scrublands. It is an active forager, often seen gleaning insects from dense vegetation, sometimes in mixed-species flocks.
