Long-tailed Tapaculo

Overview

The long-tailed tapaculo is a bird in the family Rhinocryptidae, found in the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and far northern Peru. It is one of the larger species in the genus Scytalopus, distinguished by its relatively long tail compared to other members of the group.

Identification

• Overall length of 13.5 cm, with males weighing between 27 and 32.5 g.
• Drab plumage that is primarily dark gray with russet brown flanks barred with black, with females appearing even drabber.
• Song typically begins with single notes but quickly transitions into a series of couplets, accompanied by a descending alarm call.

Habitat

This species inhabits humid shrubby areas along streams and forest edges on the east slopes of the Andes. It is generally found between 1,250 and 2,300 m in most of its range, but in Peru its elevation is restricted to between 1,650 and 1,950 m.

Diet

The long-tailed tapaculo forages on or near the ground for small invertebrates, a behaviour typical of other cloud forest tapaculos.

Did you know?

Although the long-tailed tapaculo was previously classified as a subspecies of the rufous-vented tapaculo, it was separated and recognised as a distinct species based principally on differences in their vocalizations.