- Cinclodes patagonicus
Identification
Length: 18–20 cm (7-7¾ in)
Sexes are alike. Juvenile similar to adult.
- Bold white supercilium
- Upperparts dark brown
- Greyish-brown below with white streaks
- White throat
- White malar with dark brown speckles.
- Flight feathers with contrasting buffy bases
- Tail dark brown with cinnamon brown outer rectrices
- Bill blackish, slightly decurved.
- Legs dark brown
Similar Species
Similar Chilean Seaside Cinclodes is larger and has faint supercilium. Buff-winged Cinclodes and Grey-flanked Cinclodes lack streaky dark gray underparts.
Distribution
Chile, Tierra del Fuego and extreme western Argentina.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]:
- C. p. chilensis: reduced streaking on the belly; browner underparts.
- C. p. patagonicus: belly streaking more extensive; greyer underparts.
- Southern Chile and southern Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and adjacent islands
Habitat
Near water bodies such as streams, lakes and marshlands up to 2,500m.
Behaviour
Actions
Forages alone, in pairs or small flocks constantly moving over rocks and logs near water. Has low swooping flight. During the breeding season it stands upright while beating its wings over its body in time to its trilling song.
Breeding
They nest in cavities, crevices and tunnels laying up to three white eggs.
Diet
Invertebrates, gleaned from ground, rocks, beach debris and water edges.
Movements
Mostly resident but some down-slope movement in winter. Apparently leaves Tierra del Fuego after breeding.
Vocalisations
Song is a long, complex series of musical notes and trills. Flight call is a harsh repeated chick.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Arthur Grosset
- Jaramillo, A. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton & Oxford: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117409
- Remsen, J.V., Jr (2019). Dark-bellied Cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/56385 on 27 January 2019).
- Dark-bellied Cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus), In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/dabcin1
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Dark-bellied Cinclodes. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Dark-bellied_Cinclodes
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
