Bird Guide

Band-tailed Hornero vs Rufous Hornero

Band-tailed Hornero (Furnarius figulus)

Band-tailed Hornero

Furnarius figulus

Small28 gForest

The band-tailed hornero is 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long and weighs about 28 g (0.99 oz). It is a small hornero with a long and nearly straight bill. The sexes' plumages are alike. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a wide white supercilium, dingy rufous lores, a dark stripe through the eye, dull rufous ear coverts, and a tawny buff malar area. Their crown is chestnut-rufous and their back, rump, and uppertail coverts a slightly paler chestnut-rufous. Their tail is also chestnut-rufous, with brownish black tips on the inner webs of its feathers. Voice: The band-tailed hornero's song is a "series of 3-20 high, very loud staccato notes 'djip-djip--' " that decelerate and descend in pitch. One call is a "harsh 'djeep-djeep--' "; others are "chibit, chep" and "kwee-eh". Pairs often sing in duet.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Under the same moon... · CC BY 2.0
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)

Rufous Hornero

Furnarius rufus

Small46 gShrubland

The rufous hornero is a medium-sized ovenbird at 18 to 20 centimetres (7–8 in) and 31 to 58 grams (1.1–2.05 oz), with males being heavier. It has a slender and slightly decurved bill suited to eating insects, which is horn-coloured with a length of 2.5 centimetres (1.0 in). Wings length is 10.2 centimetres (4 in), with males generally being larger. The tail is short at 7.1 centimetres (2.8 in). The measurements of the species may differ due to the Bergmann's rule. The sexes have similar plumage. It has a rufous-brown back and pale buffy brown underparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rufous Hornero
Recorded by Gabriele Magurno · Alarm call · Ezeiza, Ezeiza Partido, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Fornés Sebastián Fornés · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Band-tailed Hornero and Rufous Hornero.