Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail

Overview

The brown-capped tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura fuliginiceps) is a small, slender bird belonging to the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in the Andes of Bolivia and Argentina, where it is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• A small, slender bird measuring 15 to 16 cm in length with a long, graduated tail that gives a spiny appearance.
• Nominate subspecies display a pale, dull buff supercilium on a plain brownish face, with brown crowns and rufous wings and tails.
• Underparts are pale tawny brownish with a rufescent tinge to the flanks and undertail coverts; sexes have identical plumage.
• Emits a faint, insect-like call described as 'pree'; its song has not been described.

Habitat

Inhabits a variety of montane landscapes including arid, semi-humid, and humid scrublands, as well as Polylepis and semi-humid woodlands, often favouring steep ravines in scrub environments. The nominate subspecies is found in the Bolivian Andes, while the paranensis subspecies ranges across the Andes of northwestern Argentina. Elevation ranges vary by region, mostly between 1,000 and 3,900 metres.

Diet

Feeds primarily on arthropods, foraging in pairs, small groups, or mixed-species flocks from the understorey to the canopy. It typically gleans prey from leaves, twigs, and branch bark, and occasionally hangs upside down to reach food.

Did you know?

The bird is named for its tail, which is graduated and has feathers that narrow at the tips, giving it a distinctive spiny appearance.