Band-tailed Earthcreeper

The Band-tailed Earthcreeper is a range-restricted, inconspicuous Patagonian specialty of arid steppe and shrubland. This medium-sized furnariid spends much of its time on or close to the ground, where its muted grey-brown plumage blends remarkably well with bare soil, stones and low vegetation.

Look for a pale eyebrow, lightly streaked underparts, a long, slender and nearly straight bill, and the distinctive tail pattern: rufous at the base with a broad dark terminal band. The tail pattern can be difficult to appreciate until the bird moves quickly between shrubs or makes a short, low flight.

Behavior and voice

Usually encountered singly or in pairs, it walks and runs between bushes while searching the ground for arthropods. Its fast, dry trill can be surprisingly easy to overlook: at a distance it may blend into the soundscape like a subtle cricket or another insect. At other times it gives sharper, more conspicuous notes.

Habitat and distribution

It inhabits sparsely vegetated plains, plateaus and slopes in the Patagonian steppe and adjacent dry shrublands. Most of its range lies in Argentina, with a much more limited distribution in the eastern Magellanic steppe of far southern Chile. Long treated as an Argentine endemic, it was unknown in Chile before the 1990s; breeding there was confirmed in 1996.

Nesting

Unlike many other earthcreepers, it does not normally nest in a burrow. It builds a bulky, ball-shaped nest of thorny twigs with a side entrance, usually in a low bush or cactus, and lines the inner chamber with softer material such as wool, hair, feathers or plant matter.

Conservation

The Band-tailed Earthcreeper is currently classified as Least Concern globally. It is best described for birders as a localized Patagonian specialty rather than as a threatened species.