Dark-bellied Cinclodes

Overview

The dark-bellied cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus) is a species of ovenbird native to the southern cone of South America. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and is considered fairly common throughout its range in Chile and Argentina.

Identification

• 18 to 20 cm long with a long decurved bill, weighing 36 to 50 g.
• Adults feature a white supercilium, dark brown lores and ear coverts, and white malar areas with faint darker flecks.
• Underparts are mostly dull dark brown with pale spots on the upper breast becoming streaks on the lower breast and belly.
• Song is described as a piercing 'weep weep weep tirrrrRRRrr', while the call is a short, sharp, stuttering disyllabic 'ch'tp'.

Habitat

Found in southern Chile and western Argentina, this species inhabits a variety of landscapes associated with water, including rocky coastal beaches, lakesides, river banks, and wet forest edges. It remains near water even in semi-arid areas, reaching elevations of about 3,500 m in the Andes.

Diet

Feeds on marine and terrestrial invertebrates, always foraging near water. It usually forages singly or in pairs, gleaning prey from the ground, rocks, beach debris, and the water's edge.

Did you know?

Males perform a courtship display from a perch by flapping both wings, shaking their tails up and down, and singing, sometimes engaging in duets with their mates.