The plain-mantled tit-spinetail is a small passerine bird of South America in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
Region
Andean and Patagonian regions of western South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from coastal and central Chile through the Andean foothills of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, reaching into southern Peru. Prefers open shrublands, matorral, arid scrub, and Patagonian steppe, as well as ecotones with scattered trees. It also frequents rural areas, hedgerows, and gardens where low woody cover is present. Typically avoids dense forests, favoring broken, scrubby habitats with ample foraging surfaces.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 4000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for its tit-like foraging style and the stiff, spiny tips of its long tail feathers, the plain-mantled tit-spinetail is an energetic ovenbird of open country. It builds bulky, domed stick nests with side entrances in shrubs or low trees and readily uses human-altered landscapes like orchards and gardens. Subspecies vary subtly in tone from sandy in the north to darker gray-brown in the south.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating flights
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in nonbreeding season. Both sexes participate in building bulky stick nests placed in shrubs or low trees. Territorial during breeding but tolerant in winter when small groups forage together.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A fast, high-pitched series of trills and chatters, often accelerating slightly. Calls include sharp ticks and thin squeaks given while foraging and in contact with mates.
