Cinclodes patagonicus
The Dark-bellied Cinclodes (*Cinclodes patagonicus*) is a distinctive medium-sized passerine, averaging 18-21 cm in length and weighing approximately 30-47 grams, known for its strong association with aquatic environments in Patagonia. Its plumage is characterized by dark brown upperparts and a diagnostic dark rufous-brown underbelly, lending to its common name. Key identification marks include a prominent pale supercilium extending behind the eye and a rusty or rufous patch visible on the wi...
Found along rocky coasts, lake shores, riverbanks, and marshy grasslands throughout Patagonia, often at sea level but extending to high-altitude wetlands and streams up to 2000 meters in the Andes foothills.
Feeds primarily on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, including insects, larvae, crustaceans, and mollusks, obtained by probing in wet substrates or gleaning from rocks and vegetation.
This highly active diurnal species is often observed walking briskly along water margins, constantly probing in mud, sand, or under stones for prey. It frequently bobs its tail and head while foraging, displaying a characteristic "dipper-like" movement. Dark-bellied Cinclodes are territorial, wit...
The Dark-bellied Cinclodes is primarily found throughout southern South America, specifically in central to southern Chile and Argentina. Its breeding range extends from the Maule and Valparaíso regions of central Chile and west-central Argentina (e.g., Neuquén, Río Negro provinces) southward thr...
Least Concern
- The Dark-bellied Cinclodes is a quintessential Patagonian bird, thriving in the rugged, windswept environments of southern South America. - Its genus name, *Cinclodes*, is derived from the Greek "kinklos," referring to a small, tail-wagging bird, aptly describing its characteristic tail-bobbing...