Rufous Hornero

Overview

The rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus) is a medium-sized ovenbird that serves as the national bird of Argentina. It is a common and adaptable species found across eastern South America, often thriving in human-modified environments.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird, 18–20 cm long, with a short, square tail and a slightly decurved, horn-coloured bill.
• Overall reddish-brown plumage with a dull brown crown, whitish throat, and pale buffy underparts.
• Wings are pale brown with blackish flight feathers marked by cinnamon wingbars.
• Distinctive duet consisting of rapid trills accompanied by synchronous wing beats at the sides; the speed of the trill and wing beats can indicate the singing bird's sex.

Habitat

Inhabits savannas, second-growth scrub, pastures, agricultural land, and city suburbs throughout eastern South America. Its range covers midwestern, southeastern, and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern and central Argentina, extending south to northern Patagonia.

Diet

Feeds primarily on insects and other arthropods foraged from the ground while walking. It occasionally consumes scraps, such as bread crumbs, from human activity.

Did you know?

The bird builds large clay nests resembling old wood-fired ovens, which are so robust that they may be reused or repurposed by other species, such as the saffron finch, long after the hornero has moved on.