Puna Canastero (Asthenes sclateri) [XC273026]
by Peter Boesman from Cuesta de Obispo road, Salta, Argentina (song)
Puna Canastero (Asthenes sclateri) [XC273029]
by V\u00edctor Gamarra-Toledo from El Infiernillo pass north of Tafi del Valle, Tucuman, Argentina (song)
Subspecies
Asthenes punensis (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was previously split into Asthenes punensis and Asthenes sclateri following Stotz et al. (1996). Asthenes punensis is now lumped with Asthenes sclateri following SACC (2005), with the name sclateri taking precedence.
Considered by some to form a superspecies with Streak-backed Canastero (Asthenes wyatti) and Austral Canastero (Asthenes anthoides). Possibly best treated as conspecific with Streak-backed Canastero (Asthenes wyatti), as birds in L Titicaca region (Peru-Bolivia border) appear to be intergrades between the two. Subspecies punensis (with cuchacanchae and lilloi) previously considered conspecific with Streak-backed Canastero (Asthenes wyatti), and often treated as a separate species. Species limits in need of careful revision. Sight records from southern Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Tarija) presumed referable to subspecies cuchacanchae.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
punensis (von Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1901) - Titicaca Basin in extreme southern Peru (southern Puno) and western Bolivia (La Paz).
cuchacanchae (Chapman, 1921) - Andes of central Bolivia (Cochabamba, Potosí, sight records also from Chuquisaca and Tarija) and north-western Argentina (Salta).
lilloi (Oustalet, 1904) - Andes of north-western Argentina (Catamarca, Tucumán, La Rioja).
sclateri (Cabanis, 1878) - North-central Argentina (Sierra de Córdoba and other mountains in region).
brunnescens Nores & Yzurieta, 1983 - Central Argentina (Sierra de San Luis).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet