Birds · Passeriformes · Furnariidae

Rufous Hornero

Furnarius rufus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The rufous hornero is the national bird of Argentina and one of the most familiar birds of the Southern Cone. It is reddish brown and unassuming in appearance, and famous for its nest: a structure of mud shaped like a wood-fired oven that the pair builds on a post, a branch or a lamp post, from as many as two thousand pellets of mud mixed with straw and dung. It is monogamous for life and both members of the pair sing in duet.

Weight

31 g – 65 g

Size

16 cm – 23 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

Its mud nest weighs several kilos and once dry it hardens like adobe: the pair builds it in a matter of weeks and then abandons it, and those empty structures are reused by swallows, sparrows, bats and wasps for years.
The inside has a curved passage that stops the chamber being seen from the entrance, an architectural solution that makes access difficult for predators.
It has been the national bird of Argentina since 1928, chosen by a popular vote in schools.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Farmland, grassland with trees, parks and city gardens of central and eastern South America
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 16 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 3 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furnarius_rufus