Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Rufous Hornero

Rufous Hornero

Furnarius rufus

The Rufous Hornero, known scientifically as Furnarius rufus, is a medium-sized bird that is a member of the Furnariidae family. It is recognized as the national bird of Argentina and is also referred to as the Red Ovenbird. This species exhibits a square tail and a slightly decurved bill, with a plumage that is predominantly reddish-brown. The crown is a duller brown, while the throat is whitish. Both sexes share a similar appearance, and juveniles are marginally paler below, likely due to their cleaner state.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Rufous Hornero, look for its rufous-brown back and pale buffy brown underparts. The wings are pale brown, except for the flight feathers, which are blackish with cinnamon wingbars. The bill is slender, slightly decurved, and horn-colored. The tail is notably short. Males and females are similar in plumage, with males generally being larger.

Habitat

The Rufous Hornero is commonly found in savannas, second-growth scrub, pastures, and agricultural lands. It is synanthropic, thriving in areas modified by human activity, including city suburbs.

Distribution

This species is distributed across eastern South America, including midwestern, southeastern, and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, northern and central Argentina, and extending as far south as northern Patagonia.

Behaviour

Rufous Horneros are ground foragers, walking as they search for insects and other arthropods. They are known to occasionally feed on scraps such as bread crumbs. The species is monogamous, often forming long-term pair bonds, and may stay together for life. They are also known for their unique nesting behavior, constructing large, thick clay "ovens" for their young.

Song & Calls

The Rufous Hornero's songs are sexually distinct. Males produce a rapid trill that is faster than the females' during their duets. Both sexes accompany their trills with wing beats at the same rate, allowing observers to distinguish the sex by the speed of the wing beats during singing.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in the austral summer, with egg-laying from August to December. The species typically lays two to four eggs, which are incubated for 14-18 days. Chicks are fed for 23-26 days before fledging and may remain in the parental territory for around six months. Both parents are involved in incubation and feeding.

Similar Species

The Rufous Hornero is most closely related to the Crested Hornero of Paraguay and Argentina, sharing similar behaviors and plumage patterns.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Rufous Hornero primarily consists of insects and other arthropods, which they obtain by foraging on the ground. They are also known to consume human-provided scraps on occasion.

Conservation Status

The Rufous Hornero is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has adapted well to human-altered environments and is not currently threatened by human activities. Its abandoned nests are often used by other bird species, contributing to local biodiversity.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Rufous Hornero Fun Facts

Did you know?
The Rufous Hornero is the national bird of Argentina

Rufous Horneros on Birda

Sightings

More Ovenbirds

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.