Crested Hornero

Overview

The crested hornero (Furnarius cristatus) is a small bird belonging to the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is distributed across parts of South America and classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Size: 14 to 15 cm long and weighs 26 to 29 g.
• Plumage: Features a distinctive crest unique among horneros, a rufescent forehead, and dull clay-brown crown; throat is whitish with a tawny breast and deeper tawny belly.
• Bill and Legs: Possesses the shortest bill of its genus, with a blackish upper mandible and pinkish lower mandible tipped in dark; legs are gray.
• Song: Emits an explosive staccato burst of loud, piercing whistled notes that tail off towards the end, accompanied by a 'jwee-t-t-t-t-t-t-t' call.

Habitat

Found in extreme southeastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, and south into central Argentina, it inhabits arid landscapes such as lowland scrublands, higher elevation Gran Chaco scrub, and woodlands up to 1,000 m in elevation.

Diet

Primarily consumes arthropods, foraging singly or in pairs by walking and gleaning prey from the ground.

Did you know?

It constructs a mud 'oven' nest with an inner chamber lined with dry plant matter, typically placed on a horizontal tree or shrub branch.