The white-browed tit-spinetail is an Endangered species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in patchy, high-elevation Polylepis woodlands and adjacent elfin forest and shrublands of southern Peru. It favors woodland edges, ravines, and ecotones near treeline where gnarled Polylepis trees provide dense branch structure. The species is strongly linked to undisturbed or lightly degraded stands with a well-developed canopy. Human pressures such as firewood extraction, burning, and grazing reduce suitable habitat and connectivity.
Altitude Range
3200–4500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This high-Andean furnariid is tightly associated with remnant Polylepis woodlands, making it highly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation. It is agile and restless, using its stiff, spiny-tipped tail for balance as it forages along thin branches. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring Polylepis forests in southern Peru, where it occurs in only a few localized populations.
Temperament
active and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick bounding dashes between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups and often joins mixed-species flocks within Polylepis. Pairs maintain small territories and likely breed in the austral spring, building bulky stick nests in dense branch forks. Both parents participate in care of the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rapid, high-pitched series of tinkling trills and chatters, often delivered from mid-canopy. Calls include thin, sibilant tseet notes and scolding rattles when alarmed.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with rufous-toned wings and a long, graduated tail with stiff, spiny tips; underparts grayish with faint streaking on the breast.
Diet
Feeds primarily on arthropods such as insects, larvae, and spiders gleaned from leaves, twigs, and bark. It probes crevices, picks prey from lichen-covered branches, and occasionally makes short sallies to catch flying insects. Foraging is swift and methodical, often covering the same branch networks repeatedly.
Preferred Environment
Mid to upper levels of Polylepis and adjacent elfin forest, especially in dense, mature stands. Also uses shrub-choked ravines and woodland edges where branch structure is complex.
