Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant

Dormilona de Corona Castaña

Muscisaxicola capistrata

Length: 180mm. Sexes alike. Bill black; iris dark brown; forehead and supercilium black; crown reddish chestnut; hind neck, upper and lower back greyish brown; rump and uppertail coverts black; rectrices black with both outer edges whitish. Throat, foreneck and breast brownish grey; flanks, belly and undertail coverts cinnamon. Wing coverts as back; remiges blackish brown with tertiaries margined whitish; axillaries whitish cinnamon. Legs black.

Habitat and behaviour: this bird is found in low humid grasslands with rocky outcrops in the surroundings. When flushed or chased, it flies to the rocks where it seeks refuge; roosting grounds are in caves in the rocks. Habits are similar to most Ground-Tyrants; it can be easily spotted in groups, almost always on the ground, recognisable by its characteristic silhouette and upright stance. When it flies,

it usually does so at low altitude. It nests in caves among rocks and lays up to three white eggs with reddish speckles. Range: it occurs from Neuquén to Tierra del Fuego, in the montane region as well as in the central area.