The genus Aphrastura (family Furnariidae) groups together small insectivorous passerines endemic to the southwestern part of South America. It historically comprises two species: the thornโtailed rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda, synallaxis rayadito or espinoso rayadito), widely distributed in the temperate forests of Chile and southern Argentina, and the Masafuera rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae), microendemic to Alejandro Selkirk Island in the Juan Fernรกndez Archipelago.
Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) photographed during a Karukinka expedition in the channels of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (Chile, April 2025).
The rayaditos (in Yagรกn: tachikatchina) play a central role in the biology of southern temperate forests, where A. spinicauda is one of the most abundant treeโcavity birds (and one of the most vocal!) in the Nothofagus forests, up to the southernmost limits of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.
Within this subantarctic context, the recent discovery of the subantarctic rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica) in the Diego Ramรญrez archipelago, to the southwest of Cape Horn, has revealed a remarkable case of island diversification within a treeless environment.
Table of contents
Distribution, diversity and ecosystems
Recent studies on the community of cavityโusing birds show that A. spinicauda is one of the most abundant passerines in southern temperate forests, with densities exceeding 9 individuals per hectare and a strong dependence on cavities excavated by the Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus). In contrast, A. subantarctica inhabits an herbaceous archipelago dominated by Poa flabellata and uses ground cavities or the structures of seabird nests for breeding, in the absence of terrestrial mammalian predators.
Morphology, ecology and behaviour
A. spinicauda is a small passerine of about 12 g, with a long, slender tail employed in its acrobatic movements on trunks and branches. Its streaked, brownโreddish plumage provides excellent camouflage against bark and foliage, and it feeds primarily on insects and larvae, exploring bark and understory vegetation.
A. subantarctica, on the other hand, averages 16 g, with a longer bill, heavier legs, a shorter tail and a behaviour focused close to the ground, reflecting adaptation to a windโexposed, herbaceous habitat.
The behaviour of the rayadito in Yagรกn territory is illustrated by these words from Ursula Calderon: โTachikatchina is a bird that sings in the mountains during the day, warning that someone is hidden: a wicked man, a sorcerer. It thus announces to the walker the presence of these people, or of a dog, of a catโฆ in short, of someone hidden. Its calls, when they sing together, are frightening, tschโtschโtsch, since they do not announce anything goodโ (p. 70, rรฉf. 10).
Rayadito or Tachikatchina, photographed in April 2025 in Caleta Borracho (sailing expedition through the Patagonian channels, Chile).
Genetics, speciation and conservation
Genetic analyses show a clear differentiation between A. spinicauda and A. subantarctica, which justifies proposing A. subantarctica as a new emblematic species of subantarctic biodiversity. This distinction, combined with morphological and behavioural differences, places the Diego Ramรญrez archipelago as a natural laboratory of speciation and conservation, now protected by the Diego RamรญrezโDrake Passage Marine Park.
For A. spinicauda, the conservation of oldโgrowth, cavityโrich forests and the preservation of the Magellanic woodpecker population are essential to maintain the structure of rayadito populations within the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.
Sources :
Rozzi, R. et al. (2022). โThe Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americasโ. Scientific Reports 12, 13957. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17985-4
Rozzi, R. et al. (2023). โThe subantarctic rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americas (repositorio UChile version)โ. Repositorio UChile. https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/194760โ
RamรญrezโDโCrego, R. (2022). โThe Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americasโ. CECS researchโrelated article. https://ramirodcrego.com/papers/article29/โ
Zenodo (2022). Dataset โThe Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americasโ. Morphological and genetic data. https://zenodo.org/records/6983420โ
Rozzi, R. et al. (2022). โThe Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americasโ. PMC version (NIHโNIHMS). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9418250/โ
Rozzi, R. et al. (2022). Taxonomic description of Aphrastura subantarctica (Wikispecies).โ
Marine, R. H. et al. (2022). โThe extreme rainfall gradient of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserveโ. Science of the Total Environment ou รฉquivalent (รฉtude de biodiversitรฉ et de rayaditos dans les canaux).โ
Rozzi, R. et al. (2018). โMarine biodiversity at the end of the world: Cape Horn and Diego Ramรญrez islandsโ. PLOS ONE ou revue รฉquivalente, dรฉcrivant la diversitรฉ des รฎles Diego Ramรญrez et la contexte รฉcologique.
Rozzi, R. et al. (2017). "Guia Multi-Etnica de Aves de los Bosques Subantarticos de Sudamรฉrica". Ediciones Universidad de Magallanes.
The crew of Milagro will be present, as a partner, at the 5th edition of the Kreeh Chinen Festival!
This event, which we have supported since its creation, will be held on November 29 at Restobar Punto de Encuentro in Tolhuin (province of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina).
The Festival: a place of artistic gathering
The Kreeh Chinen Festival, a Selk'nam word meaning "clinging to the moon" according to its founders, aims to bring together artists, poets, writers, musicians, and painters from throughout Tierra del Fuego province. Each of the three major cities in the province is represented, and the initiative was designed to foster independent, solidarity-based artistic exchange open to local initiatives: producers, artisans, and small organizations are invited to participate. The previous edition, already supported by Karukinka, underscores this collective and ambitious dimension: "The idea is to make visible the regional, environmental, and cultural themes of indigenous peoples," explain in unison two of the organizers, Lauriane Lemasson, a French researcher, and Alejandro Pinto, writer and poet from Rรญo Grande.
Why Karukinka is associated with it
The Karukinka Association, founded with the ambition to "build the missing bridge between Europe and Tierra del Fuego," has been committed for many years to indigenous peoples and heritage projects in the region. The partnership with Kreeh Chinen thus naturally aligns with its mission:
To promote cultural expressions from southern Argentina (Tierra del Fuego) in their authenticity, independence, and diversity.
To strengthen connections between local actors (artists, artisans, indigenous communities) and a broader public, beyond borders.
To contribute to an event that highlights not only art but also environmental, cultural, and heritage themes linked to the indigenous peoples of the region.
What is planned for November 29, 2025
At Restobar Punto de Encuentro in Tolhuin, you will be able to discover:
Musicians coming from throughout Tierra del Fuego province,
Poets and writers sharing stories, voices, and local imaginaries,
Painters and visual artists displaying their works,
A moment of sharing and encounter, in the spirit of Kreeh Chinen, which values both art, local engagement, and cooperation.
This 5th edition of the Kreeh Chinen Festival will once again allow us to celebrate art, culture, and solidarity in Tierra del Fuego. We will share more details about this event with you soon!
Today we share with you a Yagan story dedicated to the hummingbird, told by รrsula Calderรณn and Cristina Calderรณn in 2001 in Mejillones Bay (Navarino Island, Chile). It was published on pages 170 and 171 of the bookย Guia Multi-Etnica de Aves de los bosques subantรกrticos de Sudamรฉricaย (2017) and translated from Spanish to English by the Karukinka association.
The Chilean hummingbird Sephanoides sephaniodes
The Yagan story of the hummingbird
โOnce, when birds were still humans, a severe drought struck the Cape Horn region and its inhabitants were dying of thirst. The cunning fox (cilawรกia๏ปฟ, the Magellan fox) found a lagoon and, without telling anyone, built a fence around it with umush๏ปฟ branches (calafate๏ปฟ in Yagan) so that no one could enter. Hidden there, he drank plenty of water alone, only caring for himself.
After some time, others discovered the lagoon's existence and, as a group, they went to ask cilawรกia๏ปฟ for some water. But he didnโt even want to listen to their pleas and brusquely expelled them. The people's condition worsened by the moment, and in their despair, they remembered omora๏ปฟ. They sent a message to this small occasional visitor who, in similar past shortages, had saved their lives.
The Magellanic fox (Lycalopex griseus,ย cilawรกia)
The hummingbird, or little omora๏ปฟ, was always ready to help and came very quickly. Although weakened, this tiny creature (human or spirit) is braver and more fearless than any giant. Upon arrival, people told him in detail what had happened about the great shortages. Omora๏ปฟ, upon hearing what happened, became indignant and flew to the place where cilawรกia๏ปฟ was. Selfish, the fox confronted him. And omora๏ปฟ said: โListen! Is it true what others told me? You have access to a lagoon, and you refuse to share your water with others. Do you know that if you don't give them water, they will die of thirst?โ The fox replied: โWhat do I care? This lagoon has very little water, just enough for me and some close relatives.โ
Hearing this,ย omoraย became furious and, without answeringย cilawรกia, he returned to the camp.
He thought hard and, hastily, rose holding his staff and returned to where cilawรกia๏ปฟ was. On the way, omora๏ปฟ collected several sharp stones, and when close enough to the fox, he shouted: โWill you finally share the water with everyone?โ The selfish cilawรกia๏ปฟ answered: โLet them die of thirst. I canโt give water to each one of them, or else my family and I will starve.โ
Omora๏ปฟ was so furious he could not restrain himself and leapt with his staff, killing the fox with the first blow.
The others watching came running happily to the place, broke the fence, approached the lagoon, and began to drink to quench their thirst โ all of the water. Some birds who arrived late barely managed to wet their throats. Then, the wise little owl sirra๏ปฟ (grandmother of omora๏ปฟ) said to the birds who had arrived late: โGo collect mud from the bottom of the lagoon and fly to the tops of the mountains, above which you must sprinkle.โ
The little birds and their balls of mud created vertical springs that originated the watercourses cascading from the mountains, forming small streams and large rivers running through ravines. When everyone saw this, they were extremely happy and all drank large amounts of fresh and pure water, which was much better than the lagoon water that the selfish cilawรกia๏ปฟ guarded. Now everyone was saved. To this day, all these watercourses flow from the mountains and provide exquisite water. Since then, no one should die of thirst.โ
On Monday, October 27, the Milagro resonated with the sound of coigรผe wood and tools. With Josรฉ, crew member and godparent of the boat, we dedicated the day to a traditional woodworking session to craft two new work surfaces from coigรผe wood. These new fittings, now installed at the stern of the sailing vessel, will be used to clean fish and lift nets outside, in perfect harmony with the sea and the wind. On board, the scent of freshly cut wood mingled with that of changing tides. The finishing touches were done with an axe, a vibrating saw, and finally a grinder.
Heritage of the Yagan people๏ปฟ
Among the Yagans๏ปฟ, people of the channels of Tierra del Fuego, woodworking holds an essential place. Originating from a culture intimately linked to water and cold, the Yagans๏ปฟ shape wood for everything: canoes, tools, shelters. Their know-how is based on a keen sense of the material, capable of transforming a wet log into a light boat or a rough plank into a durable work surface. By reviving these ancestral gestures, although supplemented by modern tools, we pay homage to this millenary maritime culture, which saw in every piece of wood a fragment of the landscape, a trace of the link between humans and nature.
Lauriane and Josรฉ aboard Milagro, with a first coigรผe wood work surface on the starboard aft balcony.
Coigรผe wood, the strength of Southern Chile
The coigรผe (Nothofagus dombeyi๏ปฟ) is a emblematic tree of the temperate forests of southern Chile and Patagonia. Its wood, dense and strong, is distinguished by a clear and warm tint, perfect for marine works. It is a species that withstands moisture well and ages gracefully, developing a soft patina over the seasons. Working with coigรผe means handling a living material, rooted in the same earth and winds that the Milagro sails through. This noble wood, over 60 years old in the case of what we used, was shaped here in the traditional way so that the boat continues its journey respecting the traditions and nature surrounding it.
Coigรผe leaves (Valerio Pillar de Porto Alegre, Brazil โ DSC_7172.JPGUploaded by pixeltoo, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10393830)
The study proposes a collaboration model between ancestral Mapuche knowledge and ecological science, demonstrating that nature conservation requires listening to, respecting, and working alongside indigenous communities.
Temuco, October 23, 2025. (diariomapuche.cl) โ A study published by the scientific journal Ecology & Evolution highlights the contribution of the Mapuche people to the understanding and protection of biodiversity in southern Chile. The research, titled "Listening Deeply to Indigenous People: A Collaborative Perspective and Reflection Between a Mapuche Machi and Ecologists", proposes a paradigm shift in ecological science: moving from consulting communities to co-producing knowledge alongside them.
The work was developed by a group of scientists and a machi from the Conguillรญo territory, who shared knowledge, experiences, and reflections on the impacts of industrial projectsโforestry and hydroelectricโon the Truful-Truful river basin, one of the ecosystems most affected by extractivism in Wallmapu.
"The machi and the ecologists show us that listening deeply to indigenous peoples is not a symbolic act, but a condition for understanding the life of the territory," the study states.
Ancestral Mapuche knowledge and science with two eyes
The team applied the "Two-Eyed Seeing" approach, a framework that integrates Western scientific vision with Mapuche cosmovision. In this way, two ways of knowing the world are articulated: one based on ecological data and another on the spiritual and territorial experience that sustains the Mapuche relationship with itrofil mongen (biodiversity).
The article identifies historical barriers between academia and indigenous peoplesโsuch as mistrust, knowledge extractivism, and inequality in decision-makingโbut also shows concrete paths for collaboration, respect, and reciprocity.
The territory speaks
The research documents how exotic plantations and hydroelectric projects have altered medicinal species, water courses, and cultural practices linked to kรผme mongen (good living). Against this, the study proposes that indigenous communities participate as co-managers and co-researchers, recognizing their territorial and spiritual authority over the ecosystems they inhabit.
The publication concludes that without indigenous peoples there will be no effective nature conservation, and that integrating their knowledge and rights into public policy is an urgent task in the face of the global climate crisis.
"Wallmapu does not only conserve biodiversity: it conserves memory, language, and spirituality. Listening deeply to its inhabitants is also listening to the earth," the statement summarizes.
