Canyon Canastero

Overview

The canyon canastero (Asthenes pudibunda) is a species of ovenbird in the subfamily Furnariinae. It is a year-round resident found in Peru and far-northern Chile, where it is considered uncommon to fairly common.

Identification

• Measures 15 to 17 cm in length and weighs between 13 and 17 g, with sexes sharing identical plumage.
• Features a gray-brown face with a thin buff supercilium, warm dark brown crown, and dull reddish brown wings.
• Displays a pale tawny-orange chin and upper throat, transitioning to a light gray-brown breast with faint paler streaks.
• Emits a loud, accelerating trill with a few introductory notes, and a call described as a repeated "kee-whit".

Habitat

This bird inhabits the western slope of the Andes, primarily occupying rocky areas in arid montane scrublands and ravines, with occasional presence in Polylepis woodland. It typically ranges in elevation between 2,400 and 3,700 m, though it can be found as high as 4,000 m.

Diet

The canyon canastero feeds on arthropods, usually foraging singly or in pairs. It gleans prey from low branches and the ground, preferring areas shaded by rocks or bushes.

Did you know?

Although its breeding season includes May, little else is known about its breeding biology, and its population size remains unknown despite a fairly large range.