- Leptasthenura aegithaloides
Identification
15 to 18 cm in length, much of which is in the very long, pointed tail. It has a short, pointed bill. The bird found in Chile is mainly brown with pale underparts. Its wings and crown have rufous markings, and there is a white stripe above the eye. The bird found in the Andes is larger and more buff coloured. The bird found in north Chile and Peru is more grey in colour and has little streaking on the breast. The bird found in Argentina and south Chile is pale grey, and has a little rufous on the wing.
Distribution
Chile, southern and eastern Argentina, southern Peru and western Bolivia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized[1]:
- L. a. grisescens:
- L. a. berlepschi:
- L. a. aegithaloides:
- Lowlands of Chile (southern Coquimbo to northern Aysén)
- L. a. pallida:
- Lowlands of western and southern Argentina to Tierra del Fuego
Habitat
Arid country, open woodland, forest edge, grassland, scrub, parks and gardens.
Behaviour
Diet
It forages among leaves and branches, searching for insects; it has been described as a perch-gleaning specialist, at least in Matorral habitat in Chile. It often forage in small flocks and readily joins mixed species flocks.
Breeding
It builds its nest in a hole in a cliff, bank, tree or cactus. It lines its nest with grass and feathers. 2-4 and small, white eggs are laid. The young birds are able to fly within three weeks.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Engilis and Kelt 2011. Foraging behavior of Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura aegithaloides) in semi-arid Matorral, north-central Chile. Ornithologia Neotropical 22:247-256
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Plain-mantled_Tit-Spinetail
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
