Handsome spinetail with a highly restricted range, known only from arid Andean valleys southeast of the city of Cajamarca in northern Peru. It has a white throat and eyebrow, a streaky breast, and chestnut wings and tail. Plumage is similar to Necklaced Spinetail, but Great is much larger, and the two species do not overlap. Inhabits thorny scrub and cacti. Vocalizations include fast rattles and shrill, doubled chirps.