White-bellied Cinclodes
Cinclodes palliatus
Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Overview
The white-bellied cinclodes is a species of bird in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. It is endemic to Peru where it inhabits high level, marshy grassland in the Junín Region and possibly also in the Huancavelica Region. This is a very large furnariid with dark upper parts and gleaming white underparts.
It is a rare bird with very specific habitat requirements and is threatened by habitat destruction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being "critically endangered".
The White-bellied Cinclodes faces severe threats from habitat degradation in its restricted high-altitude range in the Peruvian Andes. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented its specialized páramo and puna grassland habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the temperature and precipitation patterns of these montane ecosystems, potentially forcing the species to higher elevations where suitable habitat becomes increasingly scarce.
Habitat
The White-bellied Cinclodes inhabits high-altitude páramo and puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes, typically found between 3,500-4,500 meters elevation. It prefers areas with scattered rocks, short grass tussocks, and seasonal wetlands where it forages for invertebrates along stream edges and in boggy areas.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in FURNARIIDAE
Threatened in Peru
Frequently asked questions
Why is White-bellied Cinclodes classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does White-bellied Cinclodes live?
What are the main threats to White-bellied Cinclodes?
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