Brown-rumped Tapaculo

Overview

The brown-rumped tapaculo (Scytalopus latebricola) is a small, monospecific bird belonging to the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia and is currently classified as Near Threatened.

Identification

• Measures approximately 11.5 cm in length.
• Upper parts are dark brownish gray with a distinctive tawny brown rump.
• Throat, breast, and belly are a paler shade of the upper parts, while flanks and lower belly are bright reddish chestnut, sometimes featuring blackish bars.
• Juveniles appear brown with a barred pattern.

Habitat

This species inhabits the dense undergrowth of humid montane and secondary forests within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, specifically between elevations of 2,000 and 3,660 m.

Diet

The bird is primarily terrestrial but will climb vine-covered tree trunks to feed. Its specific diet has not been documented, though it is presumed to consume arthropods.

Did you know?

Breeding phenology remains contradictory, with adults showing worn plumage in July suggesting a June breeding season, yet immatures have been found moulting into adult plumage as early as March.