Berlepsch's canastero is a Near Threatened species bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Bolivia.
Region
Bolivian Andes
Typical Environment
Occupies arid to semi-arid inter-Andean valleys with thorny scrub, cacti, and scattered shrubs, often near rocky slopes and dry ravines. It also uses hedgerows, field margins, and degraded scrub adjacent to small-scale agriculture. Vegetation structure with low, dense cover is important for foraging and nesting. It is patchily distributed within its restricted range, reflecting the fragmented nature of suitable scrub habitat.
Altitude Range
1600–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named after the German ornithologist Hans von Berlepsch, this canastero is a specialist of dry inter-Andean valleys in central Bolivia. It often cocks and fans its warm rufous tail while moving through scrub. Habitat conversion and overgrazing are key pressures on its limited range. Its quick, chattering song helps locate this otherwise skulking bird.
Temperament
skulking but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats low over scrub
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, sometimes with dependent young forming small family groups. Pairs maintain territories within patches of dense scrub. The nest is a bulky, domed stick structure placed in shrubs. Breeding is seasonal, aligned with local rainfall patterns.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A quick, chattering series of sharp notes that accelerates into a rattling trill, delivered from within shrubs or low perches. Call notes are dry chips and churrs used for pair contact and territorial displays.
Plumage
Warm brown to rufous upperparts with fine streaking on the crown and back, and paler, lightly streaked underparts. The tail is long, graduated, and rich rufous, often held cocked. Wings show rufous tones with darker flight feathers.
Diet
Primarily takes arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae gleaned from foliage, stems, and the ground. It probes leaf litter, crevices, and twiggy tangles with its slender bill. Occasional small seeds or plant material may be taken incidentally while foraging.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense, low scrub, cactus patches, and along hedgerows and rocky slopes. Often forages close to the ground, weaving through tangles and making short hops between bushes.
