Hornero (Furnarius rufus)

BirdSouth AmericaNest-builder

Overview

The hornero (genus Furnarius) is a plain-looking but much-loved bird of South America, famous for its remarkable nest. The rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus), shown here, is a sparrow- to thrush-sized, reddish-brown bird best known for building a sturdy, domed nest of mud and straw that looks just like an old wood-fired clay oven — which is exactly what “hornero” means (from the Spanish for “baker” or “oven-maker”).

Common in parks, gardens, and farmland, often near people, the rufous hornero is the national bird of Argentina and a familiar sight across much of southern South America.

Note: there are several hornero species; details here use the rufous hornero as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Rufous horneros live across much of central and southern South America — including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil — in open and semi-open country: grassland, farmland, savanna, parks, and gardens. They are highly adaptable to human-modified landscapes and often nest on fence posts, poles, and buildings.

Diet

Horneros are mainly insectivores, foraging on the ground for insects, larvae, spiders, and other small invertebrates, with some seeds as well. They walk and run over open ground and lawns, probing and picking prey from the soil and short vegetation — a familiar sight in their range.

Behavior

The hornero's signature is its nest. A pair builds a thick-walled, domed structure of mud (mixed with straw and dung) that hardens in the sun into a strong shell, with a curved entrance leading to an inner chamber — protecting eggs and chicks from weather and many predators. Building can take weeks and a great many beak-loads of mud. Horneros are usually seen in pairs, often pairing for the long term, and they duet with loud, ringing calls. Old nests are frequently reused by other birds.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Horneros live closely and amicably alongside people, nesting on posts, walls, and buildings, and are widely admired — the rufous hornero is the national bird of Argentina and Uruguay and appears in folklore and song. They are common and not of conservation concern, and their old mud nests benefit many other animals. Consult authoritative sources for current status.

More photos of the hornero