Utcubamba Tapaculo

Overview

The Utcubamba tapaculo (Scytalopus intermedius) is a small bird species in the family Rhinocryptidae. It was formally split from the blackish tapaculo by the South American Classification Committee in July 2020.

Identification

• Approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) in length, making it smaller than most other tapaculos.
• Males are entirely black, whereas females are dark gray above with lighter gray underparts and little or no brown on the flanks.
• Males weigh between 16.7 and 22 g, while females weigh between 14 and 20 g.

Habitat

This species is endemic to the central Andes of Peru, with most records coming from the Río Utcubamba drainage. Its range extends west to the Río Marañón, east to the Río Huallaga, and south into San Martín, occurring at elevations between 2,560 and 3,600 m.

Did you know?

For several years, this distinct species was not recognised as separate from the blackish tapaculo, and even after its split, the Clements taxonomy still retained it as a subspecies rather than a full species.