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Maquis Canastero Asthenes heterura Scientific name definitions

J. V. Remsen, Jr.
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2003

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Introduction

The Maquis Conastero is an inhabitant of the Andes of western Bolivia. This bird is brown above with a buffy grayish superciliary, and rufous-chestnut tail, wings and chin patch. The Maquis Canastero is similar in appearancs to the Canyon Canastero (Asthenes pudibunda), although their ranges do not overlap. The Maquis Canastero is most often encountered in arid montane scrub, low woodland and thick hedgerows in agricultural terrain. Like other species of canastero, the Maquis Canastero is hard to see since they seldom remain in the open for more than a few seconds as they scamper from hiding place to hiding place.

Field Identification

16–17 cm; 13–14 g. Relatively long-tailed canastero with much rufous in wings and tail. Has buff supercilium and indistinct eyering, rest of face light brownish; crown, back and rump rich brown, uppertail-coverts chestnut; wings mostly rufous, remiges with dark fuscous tips; tail strongly graduated, rectrices relatively narrow and very pointed, central two pairs dusky rufous, outer four pairs chestnut-rufous; chin and upper throat pale orange-rufous, bordered below by few indistinct dark streaks; breast and belly greyish-buff, sides browner, flanks and undertail-coverts tawny ochraceous; iris brown; upper mandible black, lower mandible pinkish with black tip; tarsus and toes evidently dark grey to dark olive-grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed.

Systematics History

In past, sometimes treated as a race of A. pudibunda, but tail structure differs; alternatively, was thought more closely related to and perhaps conspecific with A. ottonis (which see). On basis of plumage and behavioural similarities (avoidance of tail-cocking), has also been suggested to be closest to A. pyrrholeuca, the two having been confused regularly in the field and as museum specimens. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Andes of N Bolivia (S La Paz, Cochabamba, also sight records from Chuquisaca and Tarija) and NW Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán).

Habitat

Arid and semi-humid montane scrub, and scrub mixed with open woodland (e.g. Alnus, Polylepis); montane grassland dominated by Festuca bunch-grass with scattered bushes; also scattered bushes and hedgerows in agricultural areas. At 3000–4200 m, locally down to 2500 m.

Movement

Resident.

Diet and Foraging

Arthropods. Forages solitarily or in pairs, occasionally in mixed-species flocks. Gleans items from ground, possibly also from low vegetation.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song a fast, accelerating series of squeaky notes; also longer song, a series of high, squeaky, strained notes, variable in length, accelerating and descending; also described is monotonic trill of c. 7 notes that lasts c. 0·5 seconds, “tuírrrr”.

Breeding

No information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in High Andes of Bolivia and Argentina EBA. Fairly common to uncommon; probably overlooked. Evidently tolerates at least moderate habitat disturbance and fairly heavy grazing; present in some agricultural areas. Not dependent on Polylepis; some populations, however, under pressure from clearance of such woodland for cultivation and exotic plantations, firewood-gathering, and burning to create pasture.
Distribution of the Maquis Canastero - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Maquis Canastero

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Remsen, Jr., J. V. (2020). Maquis Canastero (Asthenes heterura), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.maqcan1.01
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American Ornithological Society American Ornithilogical Society Armonia Bolivia Aves Argentinas Avibase Aves Uruguay Birds Caribbean Bird Count India Conservación de Islas Corbidi Fundación Ñankulafkén Instituto Humboldt Lynx Edicions Oikonos Oriental Bird Club Ornithological Society Of The Middle East The Caucasus And Central Asia RED DE OBSERVADORES DE AVES Y VIDA SILVESTRE DE CHILE Roberts Birds Save Brasil Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute Union Venezolana De Ornitologos