Dark-bellied Cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus)
Chilean name: Churrete
Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Torres del Paine, Chile, December 2005 - click for larger image Chile
November / December 2005

The Dark-bellied Cinclodes is distributed in Chile from about Santiago southwards to Tierra del Fuego and in adjacent areas of extreme western Argentina. It is found near streams, lakes and marshlands from sea level up to 2,500 m.

Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Puyehue NP, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image There are 2 sub-species, the nominate seen in the first photo and C. p. chilensis in all the others. C. p. chilensis has browner underparts and reduced streaking on the belly but this is very difficult to see in the field. (The second photo was taken with flash which distorts the colours somewhat).

It has a bold white supercilium and throat.

Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Salto de Laja, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image Like all cinclodes it gives a vigorous display when singing, flicking its wings over the body and beating them in time to the song. Photos 3 to 5 show a bird making such a song display at Salto de Laja when a small group were displaying like crazy unperturbed by the hordes of tourists (none of whom seemed to notice these lovely wee birds).
Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Salto de Laja, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image The photo 7 shows a juvenile on the beach in Chiloe. It was being fed by the adult seen in the previous photo.
Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Salto de Laja, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image
Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Caulin, Chiloe, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image
Juvenile Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Caulin, Chiloe, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image
Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Vichuquén, Chile, January 2007 - click for larger image
Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Vichuquén, Chile, January 2007 - click for larger image
Previous Page Back to Index Next Page

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page. Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites