The rufous hornero lives across eastern South America, from mid-western, southeastern and southern Brazil through Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay to northern and central Argentina, reaching as far south as northern Patagonia. It thrives in savannas, second-growth scrub, pastures and agricultural land, often close to humans, and it is the national bird of Argentina.
The species builds a large, thick clay structure that resembles an old wood-fired oven, a hallmark of the Furnarius genus. These "ovens" are attached to tree branches or to human-made objects such as fence posts, telephone poles or buildings, and the birds may stack new nests beside or even atop older ones at a site. This nesting habit creates conspicuous, oven-shaped shelters that are reused or repaired for later breeding seasons.
A breeding pair can complete a new oven nest in as little as five days, although most constructions take longer and on some occasions extend for months before the structure is finished. Both male and female work on the nest throughout the year, repairing unused ovens for future breeding. This rapid building ability allows the birds to establish territories quickly and maintain a long-term monogamous partnership.
During their duet the rapid trill is faster in males and slower in females, and each bird beats its wings at its sides while singing. The wingbeats occur at exactly the same speed as the trill, so the male's faster song is accompanied by a quicker wingbeat and the female's slower song by a slower beat. This synchrony lets an observer tell the sex of a singing pair simply by watching the wing motion.
The rufous hornero has benefited from human changes to the environment, and many individuals now live in highly modified habitats such as city suburbs. Its adaptability means that abandoned oven nests are often left in urban areas, where they become useful shelters for other birds. The saffron finch, for example, commonly nests in these unused ovens, taking advantage of the ready-made structure.
Sources
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In the sun-baked savannas and grasslands, the Rufous Hornero weaves its way through the underbrush with a quiet confidence, its earthy plumage blending seamlessly into the rustic landscape as it forages for insects and seeds with its stout, pointed bill. With a distinctive, rhythmic gait, this unassuming bird moves with a sense of purpose, its bright, inquisitive eyes ever-vigilant for potential threats or unsuspecting prey. As it constructs its intricate, mud-walled nest, the Rufous Hornero reveals a remarkable ingenuity, crafting a sturdy, oven-like structure that will shield its young from the unforgiving elements and predators that roam the open plains.
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