Rock Earthcreeper Ochetorhynchus andaecola Scientific name definitions

The Rock Earthcreeper is one of the four members of the newly reinstated genus Ochetorhynchus. It is found in southern Bolivia and northwest Argentina, with a single record in northern Chile. It is most similar to and sometimes found sympatrically with the Straight-billed Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus ruficaudus). Both of these species cock their tail when on the ground, but on average the Rock Earthcreeper maintains it at a 45 degree angle, rather than straight upright. Rock Earthcreepers are buffy below and look dark streaked the opposite of the pale streaked Straight-billed Earthcreeper. Rock Earthcreeper likes rocky canyon with adjacent scrub or shrub vegetation, on the whole more vegetatively complex habitats than the Straight-billed Earthcreeper. This is the only member of Ochetorhynchus that has an entirely evenly rufous tail.

16–18 cm; 28–34 g. Medium-sized earthcreeper with long, slightly decurved bill . Has buff supercilium , dark brownish postocular band, buff lower face; crown and upperparts  rich brown, blackish streaking on side of rufous-tinged forehead, uppertail-coverts dark rufous-brown; wings slightly more rufescent than back; tail slightly rounded, dark rufous; throat buffy whitish, breast and belly darker, tinged tawny, prominent dark brownish streaks from sides to flanks that extend on to breast and belly but fade towards centre; undertail-coverts tawny; iris brown; bill blackish, base of lower mandible pale grey; tarsus and toes dark brown or grey-brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile has scaly breast and belly, pale feather edges on back.

Andes of Bolivia (La Paz S to Potosí), extreme NE Chile (E Antofagasta) and NW Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, N Catamarca).

Arid montane scrub; locally in puna grassland with rocky arid slopes and ravines with scattered bushes and bunch-grass. At 2600–4000 m, locally to 4500 m.

Song  a piercing “veetveet-veeveeveeveeveee-veet-viree-veetveevee”; a variable-length series of whining, querulous, strained whistles possibly the same vocalization. Alarm call  a high-pitched, rodent-like, squeaky, whistled “zuwééét”.