Andean Tit-Spinetail

The Andean Tit-Spinetail occurs widely across high-elevation habitats in the Ecuadorian Andes, typically between 2,800 and 4,200 meters, where it inhabits páramo grasslands, shrubby slopes, and Polylepis woodlands. It is generally uncommon but regularly observed, often seen foraging acrobatically in low vegetation or among mossy branches for insects and other small invertebrates. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad Andean range and a stable population, though it may be vulnerable to habitat loss in specialized ecosystems like Polylepis groves. Natural history observations highlight its long tail, energetic movements, and cup-shaped nests built in crevices or dense shrubs, with breeding timed to coincide with the rainy season.