Stout-billed Cinclodes

The stout-billed cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior) is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. == Taxonomy and systematics == Various authors have placed the stout-billed cinclodes in genera Upucerthia or Geositta but these treatments have not been adopted by major taxonomic systems. Several authors have treated the stout-billed and royal cinclodes (C. aricomae) as conspecific. The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society considers the evidence to be weak but is seeking a proposal for that treatment's acceptance. The stout-billed cinclodes has two subspecies, the nominate C. e. excelsior (Sclater, PL, 1860) and C. e. columbianus (Chapman, 1912). == Description == The stout-billed cinclodes is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long and weighs 62 to 66 g (2.2 to 2.3 oz). It is a large cinclodes with a decurved, thick-based, bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a long white supercilium that extends to the hindneck, a whitish malar area with dark scallops, and an otherwise dark brown face with some narrow pale streaks. Their crown is very dark brown and their upperparts dark brown. Their wings…