The rufous-browed hemispingus is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is endemic to Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane forests and cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes, favoring dense, moss-laden midstory and bamboo (Chusquea) thickets. It uses forest edges, ravines, and secondary growth adjacent to mature forest but is most frequent in relatively undisturbed habitat. Birds typically forage from the understory to mid-canopy, moving methodically through foliage. It is local and patchy within its elevational band, with strong ties to continuous forest.
Altitude Range
2000–3500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite the name 'hemispingus', this species is a tanager now placed in the genus Kleinothraupis. It often joins mixed-species flocks, gleaning insects from mossy branches and bamboo thickets in humid Andean cloud forests. The species is sensitive to forest fragmentation and is mainly confined to intact montane forest.
Temperament
active and somewhat skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense vegetation
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups and regularly associates with mixed-species flocks. Nests are presumed cup-shaped and placed low to midlevel in dense vegetation, with both parents attending the young. Territoriality is modest, with foraging ranges overlapping in suitable habitat.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of thin, high-pitched chips and short twittering phrases delivered from midstory perches. Calls are sharp, sibilant notes that help keep contact within mixed flocks.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with a grayish head and nape, contrasted by a bright rufous supercilium and dusky ear-coverts. Underparts are yellow-olive to buffy with a paler throat and subtle mottling. Wings and tail are darker olive with faint edging; overall a softly colored, mossy appearance suited to cloud-forest understory.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small arthropods gleaned from leaves, twigs, and moss, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. It also takes small berries and fruits, particularly from melastomes, supplementing its insect diet seasonally. Foraging is methodical, often hover-gleaning or probing mossy substrates.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory and midstory of cloud forest, especially in bamboo and along mossy branches. Frequently uses forest edges and gaps created by fallen trees, where insect activity and fruit availability are high.
