Rusty-winged Barbtail

Overview

The rusty-winged barbtail (Premnornis guttuliger) is a small bird belonging to the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is the sole member of its genus and is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• A small bird measuring 13 to 14.5 cm in length, with sexes displaying identical plumage.
• Characterised by a chestnut tail with wide feathers ending in short bare spines, a pale buffish supercilium, and dark brown stripes behind the eye.
• Underparts feature a golden-buff throat, dark brownish breast with golden-buff 'teardrops', and rufescent brown flanks.
• The song is a fast, accelerating 'tsi-tsi-tsi-si-si-sisisisisisi', while its call is a sharp 'tseep' or 'tsip'.

Habitat

Found in the Andean ranges of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, specifically within subtropical montane evergreen forest. It inhabits elevations ranging from 1,300 m to 2,700 m and is a year-round resident throughout its range.

Diet

Feeds almost exclusively on arthropods by joining mixed-species foraging flocks in the forest understory, mid-level, and subcanopy. It gleans prey from moss, dead leaves, and live foliage while hopping and clambers, occasionally burrowing into clumps of moss.

Did you know?

The bird's namesake 'barbs' on its tail are actually formed by the absence of feather barbs lining the shaft, rather than the presence of spines.