The streak-backed tit-spinetail, or streaked tit-spinetail, is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Chile and Peru.
Region
Western Andes of Peru and northern Chile
Typical Environment
Occurs on dry west-Andean slopes, intermontane valleys, and desert foothills with scattered shrubs and cacti. Prefers xeric scrub, rocky ravines (quebradas), and edges of agricultural terraces or stone walls where low woody cover persists. Locally uses riparian thickets in otherwise arid landscapes and occasionally open montane shrub-steppe. It is generally tied to shrubby cover where it can glean along twigs and thorny stems.
Altitude Range
500–4000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A lively ovenbird of arid Andean slopes, it often joins mixed-species flocks while methodically gleaning insects from shrubs and cacti. It builds bulky, domed stick nests with a side entrance, frequently tucked into thorny bushes or cacti for protection. Its long, graduated tail provides balance as it clambers through dense, spiny vegetation.
Temperament
active and inquisitive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between shrubs
Social Behavior
Usually in pairs or family groups and commonly joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Nests are bulky domes of sticks with a side entrance, placed in thorny shrubs or cacti. Pairs maintain small territories during breeding but are tolerant of nearby conspecifics.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A high, quick series of thin trills and chatters delivered from exposed perches or while foraging. Calls include sharp chips and buzzy notes used to keep contact within pairs or flocks.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with distinct pale streaks on the back and mantle; underparts buffy to whitish with fine streaking on the breast. Wings and long, graduated tail show rufous tones, with tail feathers somewhat spiny-tipped. A pale supercilium contrasts with a darker eye line.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae, gleaned from twigs, leaves, and cactus pads. It probes crevices in bark, rock walls, and dry stems. Occasionally takes tiny seeds or berries when insects are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Forages in arid scrub with cacti, on rocky slopes, and along ravines with scattered bushes. Frequently uses edges of croplands, stone fences, and hedgerows that provide low, woody cover.
