Birds of Bolivia

    PASSERIFORMES: Furnariidae (Ovenbirds)  
Genus: Asthenes (13 species, 29 worldwide)

Genus Asthenes, Canasteros and Thistletails, are small insect-eating brownish birds with thin and long tails, and generally found at high altitudes. Canastero means 'basket-maker', and describes the nest.


Dark-winged Canastero
Dark-winged Canastero (Asthenes arequipae)
Colca Canyon, Peru  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Short-billed Canastero
Short-billed Canastero (Asthenes baeri)
Santa Fé, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Marco Cruz   © All Rights Reserved.


Berlepsch's Canastero
Berlepsch's Canastero (Asthenes berlepschi) Near Threatened ENDEMIC
Sorata, Bolivia  
   
Photograph by Bradley Hacker   © All Rights Reserved.


Rusty-vented Canastero
Rusty-vented Canastero (Asthenes dorbignyi dorbignyi)
Purmamarca, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Black-throated Thistletail
Black-throated Thistletail (Asthenes harterti) ENDEMIC
Villa Tunari, Bolivia  
   
Photograph by Graham Ekins   © All Rights Reserved.


Puna Thistletail
Puna Thistletail (Asthenes helleri)
Wayqecha, Peru  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Maquis Canastero
Maquis Canastero (Asthenes heterura)
Cerro Tunari, Bolivia  
   
Photograph by Bradley Hacker   © All Rights Reserved.


Streak-throated Canastero
Streak-throated Canastero (Asthenes humilis robusta)
Salinas, Arequipa, Peru  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Found in the puna up to 4700m, usually where there are rocks (HBW). Note some streaking on back and streaked throat, with plain breast/belly and cap.

Scribble-tailed Canastero
Scribble-tailed Canastero (Asthenes maculicauda)
La Paz, Bolivia  
   
Photograph by Graham Ekins   © All Rights Reserved.


Cordilleran Canastero
Cordilleran Canastero (Asthenes modesta australis)
Yeso Valley, Santiago, Chile  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

Compare to Canyon Canastero. Found in open puna over 4000. Look for black stripe in center of tail, and light colored front with few markings.

No Image
Sharp-billed Canastero (Asthenes pyrrholeuca)
   



Line-fronted Canastero
Line-fronted Canastero (Asthenes urubambensis huallagae) Near Threatened
Bosque Unchog, Huanuco, Peru  
   
Photograph by Bruno Conjeaud   © All Rights Reserved.

Arboreal unlike most canastero. Found over 3000m, and also a bit larger than most.

Streak-backed Canastero
Streak-backed Canastero (Asthenes wyatti phelpsi)
Sierra de Perijá, Colombia  
   
Photograph by David Ascanio - www.abtbirds.com   © All Rights Reserved.

Streak-backed Canastero
Streak-backed Canastero (Asthenes wyatti lilloi)
La Cuesta del Obispo, Salta province, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

Found above 3000m. Note plain throat and chest, and streaking on back and cap. The Puna Canastero was lumped with this species in 2023. That species is also found in the Cordoba mountains in Argentina.


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