Fairly common in southern South America, from bogs and streams in the Andes to beaches, lakeshores, and pastures; usually near water. Feeds on the ground with a hopping and shuffling gait, sometimes cocking tail; small flocks form in migration and winter. Often in same areas as other cinclodes, especially Gray-flanked Cinclodes in the Andes and Dark-bellied Cinclodes in lowlands. Buff-winged is distinguished by clay-brown plumage tones, plain breast (vs. obvious streaking on Dark-bellied and Gray-flanked), and broad buff wing stripe shown in its raised wing song display.