Short-billed Canastero
NameShort-billed Canastero
Common NameShort-billed Canastero
Scientific NameAsthenes maculirostris
FamilyFurnariidae
Wingspan (cm)17.5
Length (cm)14
Weight (g)12
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dull grayish-brown, with a slightly darker crown and an indistinct pale supercilium. The throat is pale, sometimes with faint streaking. Underparts are grayish-buff to whitish, with a rufous wash on the flanks and undertail coverts. The most striking feature is the bright rufous tail, which is often fanned. The bill is short and dark.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations consist of a series of high-pitched, reedy notes that often accelerate into a rapid trill or rattle, typically described as 'tseep-tseep-tseep-trrrrrr'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain, desert
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru, typically found in inter-Andean valleys and montane regions.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Short bill, Dull grayish-brown plumage, Prominent rufous tail, Pale throat, Habitat in arid Andean scrub
Description
This small, drab ovenbird is characterized by its dull grayish-brown plumage and a distinctive rufous tail. It typically forages secretively in dense, arid scrub and low vegetation in montane regions, often difficult to spot.
