The streak-backed canastero is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in shrubby slopes, drier páramo and puna edges, and open montane scrub across portions of the northern and central Andes. It favors ecotones with scattered bushes, rocky outcrops, and bunchgrass, and often uses hedgerows and overgrown field margins near highland settlements. Populations can be local but are widespread where suitable scrubby habitats persist. It tolerates moderate grazing and patchy agriculture, provided dense low cover remains for foraging and nesting.
Altitude Range
1500–4300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This furtive furnariid is named for its boldly streaked back and often reveals itself by flicking its long rufous tail as it forages low in shrubs and bunchgrasses. Like many canasteros, it constructs bulky, basket-like twig nests that inspired the group’s common name. It is typically seen in pairs, keeping close contact with crisp chatters and trills. Despite occupying harsh highland habitats, it is adaptable and persists in semi-open, human-modified landscapes.
Temperament
skulking but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats close to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually encountered in pairs or small family groups, maintaining contact with sharp calls as they move through low cover. Pairs are likely monogamous and defend small territories year-round. Nests are bulky twig structures placed low in dense shrubs or bunchgrass clumps, lined with softer materials; typical clutches are two to three eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a quick, metallic series of chips accelerating into a dry trill. Calls include sharp tchik notes and scolding chatters, often given in duet by a pair. Vocalizations carry well in open highland scrub, aiding contact across territories.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with bold dark streaks across the back, rufous-toned wings, and a long, graduated rufous tail often held cocked. Underparts are buffy to grayish with faint, variable streaking on the breast. A pale buff supercilium contrasts with a duskier ear patch, and the overall texture is crisp and streaked rather than mottled.
Diet
Primarily takes small arthropods such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, and spiders. It gleans deliberately among twigs, leaf litter, and grass tussocks, and probes into dead foliage and crevices. Occasional seeds and tiny berries may be taken opportunistically, especially in lean seasons. Foraging is generally low to the ground and within dense cover.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along edges of montane scrub, páramo and puna margins, stony slopes with scattered bushes, and weedy field borders. It also uses hedgerows, roadcuts with shrubby growth, and overgrown pastures where bunchgrasses offer cover. Individuals often work methodically along the same foraging routes within a territory.
