Ovenbirds (Furnariidae)

Andean Tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola) - HBW 8, p. 267

French: Synallaxe des Andes German: Dunkelbrauner Meisenschlüpfer Spanish: Tijeral Andino

Taxonomy: Leptasthenura andicola P. L. Sclater, 1870, Panza, southern slope of Chimborazo, Ecuador.
Plumage similarities suggest to some that this species is sister to a group that consists of L. pileata, L. xenothorax and L. striata. Proposed race boliviana (N Bolivia) described as like peruviana but with back streaks wider, outer webs of secondaries blacker and lacking rufous, and rectrices blacker and wider, but considered not diagnosable by later authors. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

extima Todd, 1916 - N Colombia (Santa Marta Mts).
certhia (Madarász, 1903) - Andes of W Venezuela (Mérida, Trujillo, presumably also Táchira).
exterior Todd, 1919 - E Andes of N Colombia (Boyacá, Cundinamarca).

See all 5 subspecies

extima Todd, 1916 - N Colombia (Santa Marta Mts).
certhia (Madarász, 1903) - Andes of W Venezuela (Mérida, Trujillo, presumably also Táchira).
exterior Todd, 1919 - E Andes of N Colombia (Boyacá, Cundinamarca).
andicola P. L. Sclater, 1870 - C Andes of Colombia (S from Tolima) S to Ecuador (S to N Azuay on W slope and to Cotopaxi and SW Napo on E slope, also in S Zamora-Chinchipe).
peruviana Chapman, 1919 - Andes of W & S Peru (Ancash S locally to Arequipa and Puno) and N Bolivia (La Paz); sight report from N Chile (Tarapacá).