Animalia Life

Aphrastura spinicauda
SUBFAMILY
Synallaxeinae
TAXONOMY
Aphrastura spinicauda J.F. Gmelin, 1789.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Synallaxe rayadito; German: Stachelschwanzschlьpfer; Spanish: Rayadito Comъn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body length is about 5.5 in (14–14.5 cm). Bill is short, straight, and sharply pointed. The body is small and the tail is long and tipped with sharp spines emanating from the tips of the feathers. The sexes are similar. The back is colored with lengthwise stripes of alternating dark-brown and tan, the tail is bright rufous, the throat and belly are white, the wings have two buffcolored bands, and there is a tan stripe over the eye.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs in southern and central Chile and adjacent western Argentina. Occurs on many coastal islands, and rarely on the Falkland Islands.
HABITAT
Inhabits a variety of forests and wooded habitats, including primary temperate forest dominated by southern beech (Nothofagus species), mature and younger secondary woodland, and low- shrub and tussock-grass scrub. Mostly occurs as high as about 3,950 ft (1,200 m), and sometimes up to 6,550 ft (2,000 m).
BEHAVIOR
A non-migratory species. Occurs as pairs during the breeding season, and in small groups of up to 15 individuals during the winter. May also occur in mixed-species foraging flocks during the non-breeding season. An active and bold species, often holding the tail cocked erect. The song is an extended, buzzy trill.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages energetically for insects and other small invertebrates within foliage at all levels of the forest canopy.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Constructs a nest of grasses and other fibers within a tree-hole or in a space behind loose bark. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and rear the nestlings.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. An abundant species within its habitat.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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