Dusky-tailed Canastero Pseudasthenes humicola Scientific name definitions

Endemic to Chile, Dusky-tailed Canastero is relatively common across its range, which stretches from Antofagasta south to Malleco. An expert singer, it is generally easier to hear than to see. It is brown above with a white supercilium, whitish throat with dark specks, gray underparts with white streaking, and a long, blackish tail. Its common name, "canastero," means "basket maker" in Spanish, and refers to its large, basket-like nests, which are typically strung between between cacti or shrubs.

Dusky-tailed Canastero is the only Pseudasthenes within its range, but it looks and behaves similarly to canasteros in the genus Asthenes, although they are not actually closely related. It does not tolerate urban environments, and it is a good indicator species of rural and natural areas. Although it has a wide distribution, it is highly localized in the north of its range; thus, it may be particularly sensitive to changes in habitat and land use.