A 16–18 cm spinetail with predominantly cinnamon-brown plumage, very uniform and with little contrast. Forehead slightly rufous; brown crown with fine streaking. Shoulders, wing edges, and outer tail feathers show a rufous-orange tone; tail center dark brown. Face grayish-brown with a faint whitish eyebrow. Throat pale beige; breast and belly uniformly beige with warmer flanks. Bill thick, straight, grayish-brown; legs grayish. Juvenile: duller, lacking strong rufous tones, with visible streaking on back and crown. May resemble the Stripe-crowned Spinetail (P. maculipectus) or the Rusty-fronted Spinetail (P. striaticeps), but both occupy different environments and elevations. The Andean species is more uniform, with less facial contrast and no spotted breast.
Geographical distribution: Andes of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina in Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, and Catamarca, mainly between 2,700–4,500 m. Common in prepuna, cactus scrub, high valleys, and puna. Resident with slight altitudinal movements.
Habitat: Shrubby ravines and montane scrub on rocky soils, cliffs, and slopes with cacti, chilca, and tola shrubs. Also found in dry prepuna environments, high Andes, and open rocky areas. Coexists with other open-area furnariids such as canasteros and serrano spinetails.
Behavior: The most terrestrial of the spinetails. Moves among low shrubs and on the ground, where it searches for food with short movements and a low posture, reminiscent of a canastero. Usually seen in pairs, often vocalizing in duets. May appear near rural houses or fences, where it also places its nests. Its song is a long series of descending, somewhat flute-like notes: “fluí-fluí-fluí-fli-fli-i…”. Calls include dry “jit/tsip”.
Diet: Feeds mainly on arthropods, including beetle and lepidopteran larvae, as well as other insects that it searches for among rocks, low shrubs, and dry branches. It may also capture small vertebrates, such as lizards of the genus Liolaemus (personal observation).
Nesting: A large, bulky nest made of thorny branches; cylindrical or domed structure (60–150 cm). Lateral entrance leading to an inner chamber lined with shredded plant material, hair, and feathers. Usually placed on shrubs, cacti, posts, or branches protruding from cliffs or steep slopes. Clutch of 3–4 eggs.
Conservation status: Not considered threatened. Common in Argentina within its altitudinal range.
Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025