Chusquea Tapaculo

Overview

The chusquea tapaculo (Scytalopus parkeri) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is found in southern Ecuador and far northern Peru. The species is assessed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Adults are dark grey above with a lighter grey underside, featuring a brown lower back and rump.
• The lower belly is yellowish, while the flanks and vent area display yellowish to cinnamon coloration with blackish bars.
• Males weigh between 21 and 24.4 g, while females weigh between 18.8 and 22.3 g.
• The male's song consists of a series of 10 to 12 notes that fall in pitch and then level off.

Habitat

This species inhabits Chusquea bamboo stands and adjacent undergrowth in humid montane forest. Its range extends from the East Andes and Chilla Mountains of Ecuador south to the Cordillera del Cóndor, which straddles the Ecuador-Peru border. Elevations range from 2,250 to 3,350 m in Ecuador, but only up to 2,900 m in Peru.

Diet

Very little is known about the chusquea tapaculo's diet, except that it appears to be mostly insects. Nothing has been published about its foraging behavior.

Did you know?

The nest of this bird is a ball of moss lined with fine fibers and placed in a natural cavity in an earthen bank.