The streak-capped treehunter is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane cloud forests and mossy evergreen forests from western Venezuela through Colombia to Ecuador. Prefers dense, humid understory with abundant bamboo (Chusquea), vine tangles, and epiphyte-laden trunks. Often uses ravines, forest edges, and secondary growth where tangled cover is present. It forages primarily at mid-levels to near the ground, moving methodically through cluttered substrates.
Altitude Range
1200–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A large furnariid of humid Andean forests, the streak-capped treehunter is named for the bold pale streaking on its crown. It specializes in rummaging through moss, epiphytes, and dead leaf clusters, often in dense bamboo thickets. Pairs maintain territories year-round and typically nest in tunnel burrows excavated into earthen banks, a hallmark of ovenbirds.
Temperament
secretive and methodical
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, usually low through dense cover
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, maintaining territories year-round. Often accompanies mixed-species flocks at times but remains in thick understory. Nests are burrows tunneled into earthen banks or steep slopes, ending in a chamber lined with plant material.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers a short series of sharp, slightly accelerating notes that rise and then taper off. Calls include dry chips and rattling scolds given from concealed perches within dense foliage.
