The royal cinclodes (''Cinclodes aricomae'') is a

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

which breeds in the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

of south-east

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

and adjacent Bolivia. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the

stout-billed cinclodes The stout-billed cinclodes (''Cinclodes excelsior'') is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and subtropical or tropical ...

''C. excelsior''. It is 20 cm long and weighs 50 g with a heavy bill and dark chocolate-brown on the body, face and crown with whitish mottling and streaking on the breast. This bird has a population of less than 250, and is classified as Critically Endangered. It is confined to tiny, humid patches of ''

Polylepis ''Polylepis'' is a genus comprising 28 recognised shrub and tree species, that are endemic to the mid- and high-elevation regions of the tropical Andes. This group is unique in the rose family in that it is predominantly wind-pollinated. They are ...

'' woodland and montane scrub, and the major threat to its survival is the use of fire and heavy grazing which restrict the regeneration of ''Polylepis''.

References

BirdLife Species Factsheet
royal cinclodes Birds of the Bolivian Andes Birds of the Peruvian Andes Critically endangered animals Critically endangered biota of South America royal cinclodes {{furnariidae-stub