Order: Passeriformes
Family: Furnariidae
Steinbach’s Canastero is a small, secretive songbird belonging to the ovenbird family. It is characterized by its warm brown plumage, streaked underparts, and a long, graduated tail. This species is rarely seen due to its preference for dense, arid shrublands and its skulking behavior. Its song is a series of sharp, dry notes, often delivered from within thick vegetation. Steinbach’s Canastero is endemic to the dry valleys and slopes of Argentina, where it is closely associated with thorny scrub and rocky outcrops. Its restricted range and specialized habitat make it vulnerable to habitat loss. Despite its elusive nature, it plays an important role in the local ecosystem by foraging for insects among the leaf litter and low shrubs.
Habitat
Dry, rocky slopes and arid shrublands in northwestern Argentina, often among thorny bushes and sparse vegetation.
Foraging
Feeds mainly on insects and other small invertebrates, gleaning prey from the ground and low shrubs.
