The national animal of Argentina is the rufous hornero. This is a native bird which is both the country’s national animal and national bird. It is sometimes also known as the red ovenbird. It is medium-sized and has a bill which is very slightly decurved. They are generally reddish brown with a white throat.
This humble bird nonetheless is one of the most important national symbols of Argentina.
They have a fairly wide range and can be found across South America, from Brazil to Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and of course Argentina.
They are well known for being synanthropic, which is part of why they are so iconic—let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Argentina?
The national animal of Argentina is the rufous hornero.
They are medium-sized ovenbirds.
Ovenbird is a genus of medium songbirds in the New World Warbler family.
They are migratory and breed all across the Americas.
The rufous hornero, also known as the red ovenbird, occurs mostly in eastern South America, and are commonly found in savanna, scrubland, pastures, and agricultural land.
As mentioned, they are what are called synanthropic.
This means that they actively benefit from contact with humans, living close by to either steal food or be fed.
They are closely related to the crested hornero which is found in Paraguay, and there are currently four other types of rufous hornero that are considered subspecies.
They are, as the name red ovenbird suggests, generally reddish brown over their bodies with a duller brown at the top of the head and a small white patch at the throat.
There’s not a great deal of sexual dimorphism and both males and females are very similar in appearance.
One thing that is very distinct between the sexes is their song.
They will often sing in duet, but the male will sing in a faster, rapid trill; the female tends to sing more slowly.
They will also flap their wings at the same time they are singing and at the same speed, so this is a good way to tell the sexes apart.
They tend to feed on insects and arthropods.
They find their food by foraging on the ground as they’re walking around, rather than by hunting from the air.
Given their typical proximity to humans, though, they can often be found eating waste and scraps.
They were first taxonomically identified in 1767, though they were not properly scientifically classified until 1788.
Why is the rufous hornero the national animal of Argentina?
The red ovenbird is a symbol of many things in Argentina that make it an important national icon.
It is supposed to symbolize unity, strength and freedom, some of the most important core tenets of Argentinian society.
They are supposedly hardworking and the way that they mate for life indicates a level of dedication you don’t often see in the animal kingdom.
They are dignified and regal birds that make a great national symbol for Argentina.
Perhaps the single most important reason, though, that the red ovenbirds have been chosen as the country’s national animal is the fact of their song.
Their song is beautiful and iconic, and most Argentinians as well as many other South Americans will be highly familiar with the song.
The song has become one of the most well-recognized birdsongs in South America generally and certainly in Argentina specifically.
They are to be found everywhere in the country and as mentioned are very common in urban areas where there are lots of people, so they are by no means elusive and hard to see.
They can be seen everywhere without much difficulty and if anything it’s even harder to avoid their song.
What about their diet?
What does a rufous hornero eat?
As mentioned, the rufous hornero primarily eats foraged insects.
They tend to roam around on the floor of the forest or savannah and look for insects on the surface.
They will eat things like beetles, crickets, ants and termites, captured while foraging on the ground.
This is what they will eat if they cannot get their hands on anything else.
On the other hand, though, again, these birds are very highly accustomed to living around humans.
This has made them very resourceful in finding nutritious human waste to eat, such as bread crumbs.
They will eat just about any nutrition they can get their hands on from our bins.
Are rufous hornero aggressive?
To humans, rufous hornero are not aggressive—they are much too small for that.
They have no reason to be aggressive to humans.
While they do like spending time around us, they are also nervous like birds are and will fly away when approached.
They won’t attack you.
However, they are of course aggressive with each other in some cases.
Rival males will fight with one another until they fall to the ground, usually for the attention of a female though in some cases they will do so for territory.
So, yes, they are aggressive towards one another but not to us.
Small and unassuming as these birds may be, they nonetheless have more than established themselves in the hearts and minds of the Argentinian people.
They are well-known for enjoying spending time around people and will get very close to you in some cases.
This, and other aspects of their existence, have made them a really important Argentinian symbol, and one which will no doubt continue to be a national icon for many years.