Region

Eastern and Southern South America

Typical Environment

Occurs across grassy habitats in eastern and southern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, and eastern to northern Argentina. It favors open to semi-open environments such as pampas grasslands, campos, cerrado edges, pastures, and agricultural mosaics. It often uses tall grass or low shrub cover for concealment and nests on the ground in dense tufts. It avoids dense forests and very arid open deserts but readily persists in moderately modified farmland.

Altitude Range

0–2000 m

Climate Zone

Subtropical

Temperament

shy and cryptic

Flight Pattern

explosive takeoff with short rapid wingbeats; low, fast dashes before dropping back to cover

Social Behavior

Usually solitary or in pairs, sometimes small loose groups in non-breeding season. The nest is a simple ground scrape hidden in dense grass. Males incubate and rear the chicks, often from a clutch containing eggs laid by multiple females. Chicks are precocial and follow the male soon after hatching.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A clear, plaintive series of whistled notes, often descending in pitch. Calls carry over long distances at dawn and dusk and may sound ventriloquial from within grass cover.