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Overview
Des Murs's wiretail

Des Murs's wiretail

Wikipedia

Des Murs's wiretail is a small passerine bird of southern South America which belongs to the ovenbird family Furnariidae. Molecular phylogenetics places it within the Synallaxinae and indicates that the genus diverged from the Leptasthenura about 14–15 million years ago.

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Distribution

Region

Southern Andes and Patagonian temperate forests

Typical Environment

Found in southern Chile and adjacent southwestern Argentina, especially within the Valdivian and Magellanic temperate forests. It favors dense understory, particularly Chusquea bamboo thickets in Nothofagus and mixed evergreen forests. It also uses riparian tangles, forest edges, and regenerating second-growth with thick shrub layers. The species generally forages within a meter or two of the ground, weaving through tight vegetation and along streamside cover.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1200 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size14–17 cm
Wing Span18–22 cm
Male Weight0.011 kg
Female Weight0.01 kg
Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Des Murs's wiretail is a small ovenbird of the Valdivian temperate forests in southern South America. Its extraordinarily long, wiry tail feathers have reduced barbs near the tips, giving a distinctive wire-like look. Molecular work places it in the subfamily Synallaxinae and suggests its lineage diverged from Leptasthenura around 14–15 million years ago. It is closely tied to dense bamboo (Chusquea) understory, making it a good indicator of intact forest understories.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

skulking and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with low, weaving flights through understory

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly, in pairs, or family groups, often accompanying mixed-species flocks in the understory. Both sexes participate in nest building, creating a domed or ball-like nest of grasses and bamboo fibers hidden in dense cover. Breeding occurs in austral spring–summer, with a small clutch and attentive parental care.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

High, thin trills and accelerating series of tsee notes delivered from low perches within dense vegetation. Calls include sharp chip or tsk contact notes while foraging.

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