Chilean name: Bandurilla

The Scale-throated Earthcreeper is distributed in south Peru, Chile and central and southern Argentina. Northern populations are Andean and found up to 4,000 metres asl but they are found closer to sea level further south.

Photos 3, 4 and 5 taken at the Cajon del Maipo show the subspecies U. d. hypoleuca. This is browner above with fainter scaling on the breast.

They build their nest at the end of a 1 to 2 metre long tunnel usually on a slope and occasionally in a crevice of the rocks. Photo 5 shows a bird entering its nest.