The scale-throated earthcreeper is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and possibly Uruguay.
Region
Southern Andes and Patagonian Steppe
Typical Environment
Occurs from the central Andes of Peru and Bolivia south through Chile and western/central Argentina into Patagonia, with possible records in Uruguay. It inhabits arid to semiarid scrub, rocky slopes, ravines, and open steppe with scattered bushes. It also uses high Andean shrublands and puna-like grasslands, as well as windswept plains and edges of matorral. In winter it may descend locally to lower elevations and more open country.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 4000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This large ovenbird probes among rocks and scrub with a long, slightly decurved bill, often cocking its rufous tail as it forages. It nests in tunnels excavated in earthen banks or sloping ground, lining the chamber with plant fibers and hair. Pairs are typically territorial year-round, and the bird’s loud, ringing song carries far across open steppe.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over ground
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, foraging methodically on or near the ground. Pairs defend territories and communicate with loud songs and calls. Nests are burrows excavated in earthen banks or sloped ground, terminating in a lined chamber where a small clutch is laid.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, ringing series of clear notes that may accelerate or descend slightly, carrying well across open landscapes. Calls include sharp, nasal chiks and rattling sequences used in contact and alarm.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with a pale throat and upper breast finely edged to create a scaly appearance; underparts buffy to grayish. Long rufous tail with darker subterminal shading and contrasting brown back. Feathers are plain-textured with subtle streaking on the breast and flanks.
Diet
Feeds mainly on arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae, taken from the ground, crevices, and under stones. Probes soil and leaf litter with its decurved bill and flips debris to expose prey. Occasionally takes other small invertebrates and rarely seeds.
Preferred Environment
Forages on rocky slopes, steppe, and arid scrub, often near scattered shrubs, boulders, and earthen banks. Frequently works along ravines, fencerows, and open ground with sparse vegetation.
