Cream-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes albiventris Scientific name definitions

Previously considered a well marked subspecies of the Bar-winged Cinclodes, that species has now been separated into three; the Chestnut-winged Cinclodes (C. albidiventris) in the northern Andes, the current species in the central Andes, and the Buff-winged Cinclodes (C. fuscus) in the southern Andes and Patagonian lowlands. It turns out that these taxa are not actually each other’s closest relatives, and the Cream-winged is in fact more closely related to the Grey-flanked Cinclodes (C. oustaleti). The Cream-winged Cinclodes is a species of the Altiplano, and it is resident there. It lives in the high Andes adjacent to creeks, or bofedal wetlands. The nest itself is constructed in a tunnel, or crevice between rocks. The Cream-winged Cinclodes is a relatively vocal cinclodes, unlike its relative the Grey-flanked. When most excited the song is given accompanying the “windmill” display where the wings are whirred in a circular manner as the bird sings. The song is a striking trill that speeds up and undulates in frequency during the middle section, and then tapers off in a slowing trill where the notes slow down drastically towards the end. As the name implies the wing stripe of this cinclodes is whitish, in fact it is nearly as white as that of the White-winged Cinclodes (C. atacamensis), although tinged with cream towards its outer end. The Cream-winged is smaller and less color saturated than the White-winged Cinclodes, although the two are similar, if in doubt the Cream-winged has buffy tail corners, and the White-winged has white tail corners.

15–19 cm; 20·5–33·8 g (nominate), 23–31·2 g (tucumanus). Small cinclodes with relatively short bill . Sexes alike. Differs from formerly conspecific C. fuscus in its cream instead of buff wingstripe, rusty-grey as opposed to grey upperparts, and whitish in contrast to grey-buff underparts; also conspecific C. albidiventris differs from present species in its chestnut instead of cream wingstripe; rufous as opposed to milky-buff distal outer rectrices; darker underparts and distinctly pale-mottled brownish breast. Races differ as follows: yzurietae has darker brown upperparts, especially crown, and much whiter breast; rufus differs in having more rufescent upperparts, more ochraceous belly, more rufescent flanks, and richer brown wings and tail; riojanus is darker chocolate-brown above and browner on breast than others, especially last; tucumanus resembles previous but has more reddish back, paler underparts, deep buff wingband; and nominate has reddish tinge above , whitish underparts , with wingband paler, almost white, and undertail-coverts white.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Páramo grassland, arid montane scrub; variety of open, grassy habitats, from páramo and puna grassland to adjacent agricultural fields, usually near water, especially bogs and streams. Common around human habitations. In Chile, ranges from 2500 m to 5000 m, but in Peru is mostly recorded at 2750–4800 m (occasionally down to 1500 m) and in NW Argentina is principally encountered above 2100 m.

Most populations largely resident; some downslope movement in winter or during bad weather, and probably also in response to temporary drying-up of favoured feeding areas at certain times of year, as a result of food shortages.

Invertebrates ; also seeds. Prey recorded include Coleoptera of families Carabidae and Tenebrionidae, also various flies (Diptera). Forages singly or in pairs. Runs or hops rapidly. Gleans from or probes in ground, mud, shallow water, rocks, debris, grass, and dung.

Song, rendered “cheet, cheet, cheet, prre EEEEOOOO, OOOOEEEEEE’cheet’ cheet’cheet…”, rises and falls over trilled middle part, which lasts 3–4 seconds, although in Peru it is described as a rising twittery trill, “trrrreee’i’i’i’i’i”, typically given from ground, but also in flight; for differences in song compared to that of C. fuscus, see Taxonomy, but note that trilled part of latter’s song is even-pitched. Calls apparently very similar to those of C. fuscus and C. albidiventris.

Breeds during austral spring-summer. In NW Argentina, nest with eggs in Salta in late Nov and another with young in Feb in Jujuy (nominate), others with eggs in Tucumán in mid Nov and early Dec (tucumanus); elsewhere, eggs in Sept–Jan in S Peru, Nov in N Chile and in Apr in Bolivia, and fledglings in Nov, Dec, Jan and Mar also in Peru, or Jan in N Chile. Speculated to be double-brooded in parts of range (e.g. N Argentina). Monogamous. Wing-flapping display while singing from perch. Nest at end of 35–75 cm-long tunnel excavated in embankment, with entrance 8–10 cm in diameter, nest-chamber with pad c. 8–10 cm wide of grasses and some hair; tunnel sited 1·1–2·5 m above ground. Probably also regularly nests in houses and other human constructions, like C. fuscus. Clutch two white eggs, size 24–24·1 mm × 19·8–20 mm (nominate) or 24·6–25·1 mm × 18·3–18·8 mm (tucumanus). No further information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common and widespread throughout most of range; the commonest member of genus in many places. In many areas occupied by this species, its habitats are subject to, at most, only minimal anthropogenic disturbance; probably benefits from effects of grazing.