Restricted to the rocky coastline of northern and central Chile, where it is rarely seen far from crashing waves; also ranges to adjacent sandy beaches at river mouths. Usually seen as singles or pairs, foraging in the intertidal zone, or singing with wings raised and fluttered from seaside rocks. Largest cinclodes in Chile and identified by very narrow whitish eyebrow, bold white breast streaking, and rather stout bill, which it uses to smash open small crabs. Other cinclodes occur alongside Seaside Cinclodes mainly in winter.