Cinclodes fuscus
The Buff-winged Cinclodes, *Cinclodes fuscus*, is a distinctive, medium-sized passerine bird belonging to the Furnariidae family, often referred to as ovenbirds due to the elaborate nests of some relatives. Measuring approximately 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) in length and weighing 22-38 grams, it exhibits a sturdy, terrestrial build well-suited for its harsh environments. Its plumage is predominantly dull brownish-grey on the upperparts, contrasting with paler, often whitish or buffy underparts, wh...
Predominantly found in open, often treeless environments such as high-altitude grasslands, puna, páramo, and Patagonian steppes, typically near rocky outcrops or water sources like streams and lakes, from 2,000 to over 5,000 meters (6,500-16,500 feet) elevation.
The primary diet consists of insects and other small invertebrates, including beetles, larvae, and spiders, which they glean from the ground surface or probe for in soft soil and under rocks.
Buff-winged Cinclodes are primarily diurnal, active during daylight hours as they diligently forage. They exhibit a characteristic terrestrial foraging strategy, walking and hopping deliberately across the ground, frequently probing soft soil, under rocks, or in detritus for invertebrates. Males ...
The Buff-winged Cinclodes boasts an extensive yet geographically fragmented distribution across the Andes and southern South America. Its breeding range spans from southern Peru and Bolivia, south through much of Chile and Argentina, extending to the remote Falkland Islands. Northern populations,...
Least Concern
- The Buff-winged Cinclodes holds the record for one of the highest-nesting passerines in the world, with nests documented above 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) in the treacherous high Andes. - Its common name directly refers to the distinctive buff-colored patch prominently visible on its flight feat...