Striped Treehunter Thripadectes holostictus Scientific name definitions

The Striped Treehunter appears, in many ways, to be a typical member of the genus Thripadectes, and is distributed in montane evergreen forest in the tropical Andes, from southwest Venezuela to central Bolivia, although it is usually uncommon throughout this wide range. Its overall altitudinal range appears to encompass 900 to 3000 m, but the species is largely restricted to elevations of 1500–2500 m. This is a bulky, reasonably heavily streaked ovenbird, although the streaks terminate on the breast, unlike several other Andean Thripadectes, which are more extensively streaked over the underparts. Like congenerics, the Striped Treehunter is usually observed foraging apart from mixed-species flocks. Although three subspecies have traditionally been recognized, it was recently speculated that most or all described variation might prove to clinal.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Nests in exposed soil banks, in chambers at end of tunnels 0.45–1 m long and 8–9 cm in diameter, cup-shaped and constructed of brown rootlets, finer in the lining. Clutch: 2–3 white, non-glossy eggs; two eggs form Tandayapa, W Ecuador (race striatidorsus), were c. 32·5 mm × 23·9 mm (2 Zyskowski, K., and H. F. Greeney (2010). Review of nest architecture in Thripadectes treehunters (Furnariidae) with descriptions of new nests from Ecuador. Condor 112(1):176–182. Close ), and seven from Manu National Park, SE Peru (moderatus) 27·9 mm × 21 mm on average, mass c. 5.8 g (3 Smith, C. and Londoño, G.A. (2013). Notes on the nests, eggs, incubation period, and nestling development of Thripadectes holostictus moderatus. Wilson J. Orn.. 125(1): 222–226. Close ); incubation period 14–17 days, and fledging period 20–23 days (3 Smith, C. and Londoño, G.A. (2013). Notes on the nests, eggs, incubation period, and nestling development of Thripadectes holostictus moderatus. Wilson J. Orn.. 125(1): 222–226. Close ); chicks pink and naked upon hatching, with sparse grey down on head, wings and flanks (3 Smith, C. and Londoño, G.A. (2013). Notes on the nests, eggs, incubation period, and nestling development of Thripadectes holostictus moderatus. Wilson J. Orn.. 125(1): 222–226. Close ). Active nests found in Aug, Sept and Nov in Ecuador (2 Zyskowski, K., and H. F. Greeney (2010). Review of nest architecture in Thripadectes treehunters (Furnariidae) with descriptions of new nests from Ecuador. Condor 112(1):176–182. Close , 4 Kirwan, G.M. (2011). Notes on the nests of five species in south-eastern Ecuador, including the first breeding data for Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant Poecilotriccus capitalis. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 131(3): 191-196. Close ) and in Oct–Nov in Peru (3 Smith, C. and Londoño, G.A. (2013). Notes on the nests, eggs, incubation period, and nestling development of Thripadectes holostictus moderatus. Wilson J. Orn.. 125(1): 222–226. Close ), with some evidence that species might be faithful to nest-sites (4 Kirwan, G.M. (2011). Notes on the nests of five species in south-eastern Ecuador, including the first breeding data for Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant Poecilotriccus capitalis. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 131(3): 191-196. Close ).