Large miner, 19–21 cm, robust, with a thick, somewhat long and slightly curved bill. Deep chestnut upperparts; brownish-gray crown. Whitish eyebrow and throat; grayish breast turning chestnut on belly and flanks. Very conspicuous white wing patch, visible even when perched. Dark tail with white tips, stronger on outer feathers. Juvenile shows paler upperparts and reduced contrast.
Geographical distribution: Central and northern Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and north-central Argentina between 1,000–4,500 m a.s.l.
Ssp. atacamensis: Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, Tucumán, La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza.
Ssp. schocolatinus: Sierras of Córdoba and San Luis.
Resident, with slight downslope movements after breeding.
Habitat: Mountain streams and rivers, wetlands, bofedales, high-Andean lagoons and mountain irrigation channels. Prefers rocky shores and well-oxygenated waters; frequent near rural dwellings.
Behavior: Solitary or in pairs. Walks and hops among rocks along stream edges; probes water, mud and low vegetation. When disturbed, flies low following the watercourse. Voice: repeated “tri-tri… tri-tri…”. Song is a whistle followed by a soft rattling.
Diet: Larvae of aquatic insects and other small arthropods, spiders and snails. Forages on wet soil, mud and rocks along water edges.
Nesting: Nest in rock cavities or tunnels up to 1 m deep. Inner chamber lined with dry grasses and hair. Clutch of 2 white eggs.
Conservation status: Species not considered threatened. Locally common.
Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025