Vilcabamba Thistletail Asthenes vilcabambae Scientific name definitions

The Vilcabamba Thistletail is a small, long-tailed furnariid (Furnariidae) endemic to a tiny patch of Andes in southern Peru, found in the northern and central Cordillera de Vilcabamba, in the department of Cuzco, between 2800 and 3500 meters in elevation. In appearance, it is olive brown above and gray below with a small, indistinct tawny chin patch and a long, spike-tipped tail. The species was previously regarded as a subspecies of a broadly-defined White-chinned Thistletail (Asthenes fuliginosa), and more recently considered conspecific with the closely related Ayacucho Thistletail (Asthenes ayacuchensis). Notable vocal differences and more subtle plumage differences led to the two being split, with each species occupying similar habitat on either side of the Apurímac River. It is among the most poorly known members of its family in Peru, and until recently had been seen by very few observers. Recent discoveries of the species at more accessible locations in the central Cordillera Vilcabamba will hopefully open up new opportunities for investigations.