Cinclodes albiventris
The Cream-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes albiventris) is a captivating high-Andean passerine, a true specialist of extreme environments. This medium-sized ovenbird, typically measuring 16-19 cm (6.3-7.5 inches) and weighing 28-44 grams (1.0-1.6 oz), is characterized by its dull earthy brown plumage, which provides excellent camouflage against its rocky habitat. Its most distinctive field mark, giving it its common name, is a conspicuous creamy-white patch on the outer primaries of the wing, part...
Found in high-altitude Andean grasslands, puna, and páramo ecosystems, typically at elevations between 3,000 and 5,000 meters. It strongly associates with rocky areas, sparse vegetation, and water bodies such as streams, lakes, and bogs.
Feeds primarily on a variety of invertebrates, including insects, larvae, small crustaceans, and mollusks, which it uncovers by probing, gleaning, and flipping objects on the ground.
The Cream-winged Cinclodes is a diurnal and highly terrestrial bird, typically observed foraging alone or in pairs. It employs an active hopping and walking gait, often along stream banks or lake shores, where it methodically turns over stones, probes in mud, and gleans invertebrates from sparse ...
The Cream-winged Cinclodes is a resident species, extensively distributed across the high-altitude Andes of South America, primarily within the Puna and Altiplano regions. Its breeding range spans from southern Peru, through much of Bolivia, into northern Chile, and extending into northwestern Ar...
Least Concern
- This species is one of the highest-dwelling passerines, regularly found at elevations exceeding 4,500 meters (14,760 feet) in the Andes. - Its genus name, 'Cinclodes', means 'like a Dipper' (Cinclus), reflecting its preference for foraging along the edges of water bodies. - Cream-winged Cinclod...