Pale-billed Hornero (Furnarius torridus)

Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The Pale-billed Hornero has chestnut-rufous upperparts. The throat is white and sharply defined from the rich rufous underparts. The crown and sides of the head are gray. It has a pale long and broad supercilium. The iris is dark. The bill is creamy white. It forages on the ground in open or semi-open habitats often near water on river islands and less frequently in varzea forests. It is similar to the Pale-legged Hornero but is distinguished by having rich rufous underparts and gray sides of the head. Also see, the smaller Lesser Hornero.

Status: The Pale-billed Hornero is restricted to river islands and varzea forests along the Amazon, Napo, Marañon, and Ucayali Rivers. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Hornero de Pico Pálido.

Sub-species: Pale-billed Hornero (Furnarius torridus), P. L. Sclater and Salvin, 1866.

Meaning of Name: Furnarius: L. furnus= oven, furnarius= baker. torridus: L. torrid, torrere= burnt, to burn. Torridus= scorched.

See more of the Family Furnariidae