Striolated Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura striolata Scientific name definitions

This southeast Brazilian endemic occurs only in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and northern Rio Grande do Sul, where it is found at the edges of southern temperate forests, especially those dominated by Podocarpus and Araucaria trees. Although mainly recorded at altitudes of 500 to 1100 m, there is at least one record from the coast. Only one other tit-spinetail occurs in this region, the Araucaria Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura setaria), which in contrast to the present species has a warm rufous back, a dark gray head, and buffier posterior underparts, as well as being exclusively restricted to Araucaria trees. The Striolated Tit-Spinetail usually forages in pairs, but these often attach themselves to mixed-species flocks. They draw attention in such circumstances by their habit of hanging upside-down while feeding. The species’ conservation prospects seem reasonably secure at present, especially as it appears tolerant of at least some human disturbance and habitat degradation.

15–16 cm; 10–11 g. Has black crown  with buff streaks, buff-whitish supercilium  ; upperparts brown, back  with conspicuous buff streaks; wings dark brown with paler margins, rufous bases of remiges; tail  long, strongly graduated  , rectrices slightly stiffened basally, inner webs of central pair deeply emarginated and strongly pointed, brown, with rufous areas on outer rectrices; dull pale ochraceous below , brownish speckles on throat  and upper breast; iris dark brown; bill  black, pinkish-grey base of lower mandible; tarsus and toes greenish. Sexes alike. Juvenile has streaks less distinct and shorter, tail less deeply forked.

SE Brazil from Paraná S to N Rio Grande do Sul.

Arthropods. Usually forages in pairs, occasionally in mixed-species flocks, from understorey to canopy. Gleans food items from foliage and branches; often hangs  upside-down  acrobatically.

Song  high-pitched, slow, descending trill, fading towards end, “psi, psi-psi, ks-ks-ksks-ks”; calls an assortment of squeaky notes.

Season during austral spring-summer; nestlings in Dec and Jan. Monogamous. Nest a platform of twigs mixed with moss, lined with feathers, placed in natural cavity or old hole of woodpecker (Picidae) 1·4–6 m up in tree, or in other cavity (e.g. inside cow skull placed above ground). Clutch size not documented; both sexes feed nestlings.