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".
Region
Central Peruvian Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in high-altitude marshy grasslands and cushion-plant peat bogs (bofedales), especially around the Junín Plateau and possibly adjacent Huancavelica. It favors saturated soils with shallow pools, seeps, and mossy or sponge-like vegetation. Birds often forage along the margins of bogs, streams, and puddles, moving between hummocks and exposed mud. Habitat quality is tightly linked to stable water levels and minimal trampling by livestock.
Altitude Range
4400–5200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This is one of the largest cinclodes and a high-Andean specialist that depends on intact peat bogs (bofedales). Its gleaming white underparts make it unusually striking for the group. The species is among Peru’s most threatened birds, with a tiny, highly fragmented range and sensitivity to grazing, mining, and peat extraction.
White-bellied Cinclodes endemic in Peru
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over the ground
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs defending small bog patches. Nests are placed in burrows, banks, or rock crevices, lined with grasses and plant fibers. Pairs maintain territories year-round in suitable wetland patches.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a dry, tinkling series or short rattle delivered from a rock or low perch. Calls include sharp chips and rattling notes, especially when alarmed or interacting with neighbors.
