Ayacucho Thistletail Asthenes ayacuchensis Scientific name definitions

Ayacucho Thistletail is a small, long-tailed furnariid endemic to a tiny patch of Andes in southern Peru. The species is found in Ayacucho and Cuzco on the west side of the deep Apurímac River Valley, between 2800 and 3500 meters in elevation. In appearance, it is olive-brown above and gray below with a small, bright rufous chin patch and a long, spike-tipped tail. Ayacucho Thistletail was previously regarded as a subspecies of White-chinned Thistletail Asthenes fuliginosa, as was the closely related Vilcabamba Thistletail Asthenes vilcabambae.

18–20 cm. A typical thistletail. Differs from formerly conspecific A. vilcabambae in having a darker and more extensive rufous chin patch, it being bright reddish chestnut as opposed to cinnamon; pale area below gular patch much less well defined, being more greyish rather than ochraceous buff; and underparts lack any scalloped appearance; slightly blacker lores and marginally less obvious supercilium. Sexes alike. Juvenile lacks rufous chin patch, this part being greyish buff instead.

Andes of S Peru (W of R Apurímac, N Ayacucho).

Forest edge at the ecotone with puna, including Polylepis woodland, secondary forest and elfin forest patches, often with Chusquea bamboo; recorded at 3300–3700 m.

Primary vocalization a rapid, high-pitched, even trill lasting two seconds in duration, delivered at a steady frequency that differs strikingly from A. vilcabambae (which see), being instead more similar to that of A. palpebralis. Calls similar to those of A. vilcabambae, but higher-pitched.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Population unknown, but presumably small. Overall range estimated at 17,200 km², although its Area of Occupancy is perhaps just 500 km², within which elfin forest habitats are fragmented and degraded by anthropogenic disturbance.