Cinclodes excelsior
The Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior) is a striking, medium-sized ovenbird of the family Furnariidae, measuring approximately 20-22 cm (8-9 inches) in length. Its robust, somewhat decurved bill gives it its common name and is a key identification feature. Plumage is predominantly dark sooty-brown on the upperparts, contrasting with a paler, often buffy-brown underbelly. Distinctive field marks include a prominent buffy or whitish supercilium, a clean white throat, and a conspicuous...
Found in high-elevation paramo, puna, and boggy areas of the Andes, typically along streams, lakeshores, or wet meadows, ranging from 3000 to over 5000 meters (9,800-16,400 feet) above sea level.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, including insect larvae, beetles, and spiders, obtained by probing wet soil, mud, and under stones.
The Stout-billed Cinclodes is a primarily diurnal species, often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs along rocky stream banks or damp ground. Its foraging strategy involves active probing with its strong bill into mud, moss, and under stones for invertebrates, occasionally wading into shallo...
The Stout-billed Cinclodes is endemic to the high Andes of South America, with a resident breeding range extending from Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru, and into western Bolivia. There are two recognized subspecies: *Cinclodes excelsior excelsior* occupies the northern part of the range in t...
Least Concern
- The Stout-billed Cinclodes is one of the highest-dwelling passerines in the Andes, regularly found at elevations exceeding 5,000 meters (16,400 feet). - Its stout, slightly decurved bill is perfectly adapted for extracting insect larvae from crevices and soft ground in its boggy, high-altitude ...