The Perija thistletail is an Endangered species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to the Perijá Mountains in Colombia and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Restricted to the Serranía del Perijá along the Colombia–Venezuela frontier, it occupies a patchwork of elfin forest edges, humid shrublands, and páramo with dense bamboo. It favors Chusquea thickets, tangles of ferns and shrubs, and secondary growth near forest margins. The species keeps to steep slopes and ridge tops where mist and cloud maintain humid conditions. Its range is highly fragmented, with birds often confined to remnant habitat pockets.
Altitude Range
2400–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This high-Andean furnariid keeps close to dense Chusquea bamboo and shrubby páramo, where its long, spiny-tipped tail helps it maneuver through tangled vegetation. It is often heard before it is seen, giving high, trilled songs and dry rattles from cover. Habitat loss from agriculture, burning, and logging in the Perijá Mountains is the primary threat. Conservation attention focuses on protecting remnant elfin forest and páramo mosaics along the Colombia–Venezuela border.
Temperament
skulking and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct over vegetation
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining territories year-round. It forages close to the ground or mid-levels within dense bamboo and shrubs. Nests are placed low in dense vegetation; both sexes likely contribute to nesting duties. It occasionally accompanies mixed-species flocks along forest edges.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A high, thin trill that accelerates slightly, interspersed with dry rattles and chips delivered from cover. Calls are sharp, metallic notes that aid contact between mates in dense vegetation.
