Birds
Thorn-tailed Rayadito
Aphrastura spinicauda · also called rayadito
Hanging upside down to reach hidden insects, a thorn-tailed rayadito breeds further south than almost any other passerine bird in the Americas, its spiny tail feathers providing balance across the cold forests of Tierra del Fuego.
Overview
The thorn-tailed rayadito, Aphrastura spinicauda, is a Least Concern bird native to forest habitat across southern Chile and Argentina, including Tierra del Fuego. Its record-setting southerly breeding range, distinctive spiny tail feathers, and active, acrobatic foraging style make it one of the more physically and geographically remarkable small songbirds found anywhere in the Americas.
A tiny bird at the edge of a continent
Few passerine birds anywhere push as far south as the thorn-tailed rayadito, which continues to breed successfully in the cold, wind-battered forests of Tierra del Fuego, a testament to how adaptable small songbirds can become at the very limits of a continent.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable southern beech forest habitat in southern Chile and Argentina.
Thorn-tailed Rayadito: common questions
Why is it called the thorn-tailed rayadito?
This species has distinctive spiny, pointed tips to its tail feathers, a feature that gives the species its common name and helps with balance while foraging on tree trunks and branches.
How far south does the thorn-tailed rayadito breed?
This species breeds further south than almost any other passerine bird in the Americas, reaching into the cold forests of Tierra del Fuego at the very tip of South America.
How does the thorn-tailed rayadito forage?
This species forages actively and acrobatically through foliage and bark, often hanging upside down to reach hidden insects and spiders.
Where does the thorn-tailed rayadito nest?
This species nests in cavities in dead or decaying trees, sometimes reusing cavities originally excavated by woodpeckers such as the Magellanic woodpecker.