Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior) [XC62354]
by Andrew Spencer from Papallacta Pass, Napo, Ecuador (call)
Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior) [XC76275]
by Meena Haribal from Parque Nacional Cajas, Azuay, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
Cinclodes excelsior (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior) and Royal Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae) following SACC (2005).
Sometimes placed in genus Geositta, and in the past in Upucerthia, but plumage, wing-raising display and foraging behaviour favour inclusion in present genus. Formerly treated as conspecific with Royal Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae), but differs in, especially, plumage and in micro-habitat use.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
columbianus (Chapman, 1912) - Central Andes of Colombia (Tolima).
excelsior (Sclater, 1860) - Andes from extreme south-western Colombia (Nariņo) south to southern Ecuador (northern Azuay).