Maquis Canastero

Overview

The maquis canastero (Asthenes heterura) is a bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae, found in Argentina and Bolivia. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though its estimated population of 10,000 to 20,000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Length of 16 to 17 cm and weight of 13 to 14 g, with identical plumage in both sexes.
• Rich brown crown, back, and rump, with chestnut uppertail coverts and rufous wings tipped with dark fuscous feathers.
• Buff supercilium and eyering on a light brownish face, paired with a pale orange-rufous chin and upper throat, grayish buff breast and belly, and tawny ochraceous flanks.
• Song consists of a fast, accelerating series of squeaky notes, and it emits a monotonic 'tuírrrr' call.

Habitat

The species inhabits semi-humid to arid landscapes on the east side of the Andes, including montane scrublands, scrublands with open Alnus and Polylepis woodland, and montane Festuca grasslands with scattered bushes. It also tolerates agricultural areas with bushes and hedgerows. Its range spans from 2,500 to 4,200 m in elevation, covering the northern Bolivian departments of La Paz and Cochabamba, and the northwestern Argentinian provinces of Jujuy, Salta, and Tucumán.

Diet

The maquis canastero feeds on arthropods. It typically forages singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species feeding flocks. It gleans prey from the ground and possibly from low vegetation.

Did you know?

Once assessed as Threatened in 2004, the species is now considered Least Concern, as it tolerates moderate habitat degradation and thrives on cattle pastures and cultivated land. Its apparent call is described as a monotonic 'tuírrrr' trill.