Rufous Hornero
Encyclopedia
The Rufous Hornero, Furnarius rufus, is a large ovenbird
from eastern South America
. Also known as the Red Ovenbird, it is a common species of second-growth scrub, pastures and agricultural land, and the species is often seen near areas of human inhabitation. Its range includes south eastern and southern Brazil
, Bolivia
, Paraguay
, Uruguay
and northern and central Argentina
(down to northern Patagonia
). The species is most closely related to the Crested Hornero
of Paraguay and Argentina. There are four accepted subspecies
.
is overall reddish brown with a dull brown crown and a whitish throat. Both sexes look alike, and juvenile birds are slightly paler below. There is some clinal size variation from north to south due to Bergmann's Rule
. Rufous Horneros feed on insect
s and other arthropod
s obtained by foraging on the ground while walking.They sometimes also feed on human waste, such as bread crumbs.
Predators of the Rufous Hornero and/or its young include birds of prey such as the Black Chested Buzzard Eagle Buteo melanoleucus, domestic cats, and a number of species of snakes and possibly lizards. However, building a covered nest and keeping the eggs protected greatly increases young birds' rate of survival.
The Rufous Hornero breeds in the austral summer, laying eggs between September and December and raising nestlings between October and January. The species is monogamous and will maintain the pair bond for many years, even for life. The nest of the species is typical for the genus, a large thick clay "oven" placed on a tree, or more recently on man made structures such as fenceposts, telephone poles or buildings. Pairs remain together throughout the year and will work on the nest during that time; nests can be constructed in as little as 15 days but are usually completed in 2–3 months. Between 2-4 eggs are laid and incubated for 14–18 days. Chicks are fed for 23–26 days before fledging
; young birds remain in the parental territory for around 6 months after fledging. Both parents undertake incubation and feeding responsibilities. The birds do not use the same "oven" for succeeding breeding-seasons, therefore it is quite common to see a number of structures - from two to three - close to each other (or even atop each other) at the same nesting area. However, a formerly unused nest can be repaired for a new breeding-season.
The Rufous Hornero has benefited from human changes to the environment and many live in highly modified habitat. Conversely, it can benefit various other species of birds, such as the Saffron Finch
, who nest at its unused "ovens". It is a familiar sight over much of its range and has been adopted as the national bird of Argentina
. It is not threatened by human activities and is listed as least concern
by the IUCN.
The Rufous Hornero carries the eggs before laying anywhere from 2–3 days. Incubation period lasts 16–17 days. Thia bird is also the state bird for Argentina.
Ovenbird (family)
Ovenbirds or furnariids are a large family of small suboscine passerine birds found in Mexico, and Central and South America. They form the family Furnariidae...
from eastern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Also known as the Red Ovenbird, it is a common species of second-growth scrub, pastures and agricultural land, and the species is often seen near areas of human inhabitation. Its range includes south eastern and southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and northern and central Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
(down to northern Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
). The species is most closely related to the Crested Hornero
Crested Hornero
The Crested Hornero is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
of Paraguay and Argentina. There are four accepted subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
.
Overview
The Rufous Hornero is a large ovenbird with a square tail and a straight bill. The plumagePlumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is overall reddish brown with a dull brown crown and a whitish throat. Both sexes look alike, and juvenile birds are slightly paler below. There is some clinal size variation from north to south due to Bergmann's Rule
Bergmann's Rule
Bergmann's rule is an ecogeographic principle that states that within a broadly distributed genus, species of larger size are found in colder environments, and species of smaller size are found in warmer regions. Although originally formulated in terms of species within a genus, it has often been...
. Rufous Horneros feed on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and other arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
s obtained by foraging on the ground while walking.They sometimes also feed on human waste, such as bread crumbs.
Predators of the Rufous Hornero and/or its young include birds of prey such as the Black Chested Buzzard Eagle Buteo melanoleucus, domestic cats, and a number of species of snakes and possibly lizards. However, building a covered nest and keeping the eggs protected greatly increases young birds' rate of survival.
Fledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state...
; young birds remain in the parental territory for around 6 months after fledging. Both parents undertake incubation and feeding responsibilities. The birds do not use the same "oven" for succeeding breeding-seasons, therefore it is quite common to see a number of structures - from two to three - close to each other (or even atop each other) at the same nesting area. However, a formerly unused nest can be repaired for a new breeding-season.
The Rufous Hornero has benefited from human changes to the environment and many live in highly modified habitat. Conversely, it can benefit various other species of birds, such as the Saffron Finch
Saffron Finch
The Saffron Finch is a tanager from South America and is common in both open and semi-open areas in lowlands outside the Amazon Basin. They have a wide distribution in Colombia, Venezuela , Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Argentina...
, who nest at its unused "ovens". It is a familiar sight over much of its range and has been adopted as the national bird of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is not threatened by human activities and is listed as least concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by the IUCN.
The Rufous Hornero carries the eggs before laying anywhere from 2–3 days. Incubation period lasts 16–17 days. Thia bird is also the state bird for Argentina.
External links
- Rufous Hornero videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (for ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, UruguayUruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
) - Rufous Hornero photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article birdfinders–"Brazil Photos"
