Rufous Hornero

Furnarius rufus

Photo by Juninho
Photographed: Rio Sao Francisco, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Description

The Rufous Hornero, as suggested by the name, is mostly rufous. Its belly and throat may be paler, but it varies according to the subspecies or even to the individual. The tail is noticeably darker and more reddish. It is the National Bird of Argentina.

Identification

The Pale-legged, Wing-banded and Lesser Hornero have a paler and more conspicious eye-brow than the Rufous Hornero. It is easily separated from the Crested Hornero by the lack of a crest.

Distribution

It is widespread and often common in open and semi-open habitats of eastern and central South America.

Diet

This bird feeds insects (e.g. termites or ants) and some other invertebrates, searching for them on the ground or under fallen trunks. They can also be seen eating food intended for human consumption.

Reprodution

The Rufous Hornero is well-known for its oven-like nest ("horno" means oven in Spanish), made of straw and manure mixed with mud. The nest can be used again, after some changes, but never for two seasons in a row, so the couple alternate betweem two or three nests each season. When there is not enough space to build new nests, the couple will build another next to, or even on top of, an older nest. The nests can be occupied by other bird species as well.

Behaviour

The couple usually calls loudly in duets, while vibrating its wings.

External Links

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