Stout-billed Cinclodes

The Stout-billed Cinclodes occurs in high-elevation habitats across the Ecuadorian Andes, typically between 3,000 and 4,500 meters, where it inhabits páramo grasslands, rocky slopes, and stream margins. It is generally uncommon but locally present, often seen foraging alone or in pairs on the ground for insects and other small invertebrates, using its robust bill to probe soil and moss. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population across its Andean range, though it may be sensitive to habitat degradation from grazing and fire. Natural history observations highlight its terrestrial habits, cryptic plumage, and nesting in earthen banks or rock crevices, with breeding timed to coincide with the rainy season.