Canasteros are small passerine birds of South America. There are 22 to 24 species which belong to the genus Asthenes in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. Most species occur in open country and scrubland in southern South America and the Andes. They feed on insects and other invertebrates.

They are typically 15 to 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.

The name "canastero" comes from Spanish and means "basket-maker", referring to their large, domed nests made of sticks or grass.

Species list

• Canyon Canastero, Asthenes pudibunda
• Rusty-fronted Canastero, Asthenes ottonis
• Maquis Canastero or Iquico Canastero, Asthenes heterura
• Cordilleran Canastero, Asthenes modesta
• Cactus Canastero, Asthenes cactorum
• 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
• Dusky-tailed Canastero, Asthenes humicola
• 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
• Steinbach's Canastero or Chestnut Canastero, Asthenes steinbachi
• Short-billed Canastero, Asthenes baeri
• Cipo Canastero, Asthenes luizae
• Patagonian Canastero, Asthenes patagonica

References

• Jaramillo, Alvaro; Burke, Peter & Beadle, David (2003) Field Guide to the Birds of Chile, Christopher Helm, London
• South American Classification Committee (2007) A classification of the bird species of South America, part 6. Retrieved 17/07/07.