Canastero

Canasteros are small passerine birds of South America. The name "canastero" comes from Spanish and means "basket-maker", referring to their large, domed nests made of sticks or grass. They feed on insects and other invertebrates.

Taxonomy
There are about 20 species which belong to the genus Asthenes in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. In 2010 four species, the Cactus, Dusky-tailed, Steinbach's and Patagonian Canasteros, were split off into the new genus Pseudasthenes.

Description
They are typically 15–18 cm long and slim with long tails and thin, pointed bills. They are mostly dull and brown in colour but vary in tail pattern and presence of streaking. They have trilling songs.

Distribution and habitat
Most species occur in open country and scrubland in southern South America and the Andes.

Species list

 * Canyon Canastero, Asthenes pudibunda
 * Rusty-fronted Canastero, Asthenes ottonis
 * Maquis Canastero or Iquico Canastero, Asthenes heterura
 * Cordilleran Canastero, Asthenes modesta
 * Streak-throated Canastero, Asthenes humilis
 * Streak-backed Canastero, Asthenes wyatti
 * Puna Canastero or Puno Canastero, Asthenes sclateri
 * Austral Canastero, Asthenes anthoides
 * Hudson's Canastero, Asthenes hudsoni
 * Line-fronted Canastero, Asthenes urubambensis
 * Many-striped Canastero, Asthenes flammulata
 * Junín Canastero, Asthenes virgata
 * Scribble-tailed Canastero, Asthenes maculicauda
 * Sharp-billed Canastero or Lesser Canastero, Asthenes pyrrholeuca
 * Creamy-breasted Canastero or Rusty-vented Canastero, Asthenes dorbignyi
 * Dark-winged Canastero, Asthenes (dorbignyi) arequipae
 * Pale-tailed Canastero, Asthenes (dorbignyi) huancavelicae
 * Berlepsch's Canastero, Asthenes berlepschi
 * Short-billed Canastero, Asthenes baeri
 * Cipo Canastero, Asthenes luizae