Puna Thistletail
NamePuna Thistletail
Common NamePuna Thistletail
Scientific NameAsthenes sclateri
FamilyFurnariidae
Wingspan (cm)18
Length (cm)16
Weight (g)17
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dull brown, often with a subtle rufous wash on the crown and rump. Underparts are paler, grayish-brown, sometimes with faint streaking on the throat or breast. The tail is long, graduated, and spiky, typically rufous-brown.
Vocalization / CallIts song is a rapid, high-pitched trill or a series of accelerating, sharp notes, often described as a 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee' or a rapid 'chip-chip-chip-trrrrrr'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsmountain, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeThis species is endemic to the Andes of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina, inhabiting high-altitude puna grasslands and montane scrub.
Identifying Featuressmall size, drab brown plumage, subtle rufous crown and rump, long, spiky tail, skulking behavior in dense vegetation, high-altitude Andean habitat
Description
The Puna Thistletail is a small, secretive ovenbird found in high-altitude Andean scrub and grasslands. It typically forages low in dense vegetation, often flicking its long, spiky tail. Its drab brown plumage provides excellent camouflage in its rocky and shrubby habitat.
