Stiles's Tapaculo

Overview

Stiles's tapaculo (Scytalopus stilesi) is a Neotropical bird belonging to the tapaculo group, described as new to science in 2005. It is a common understorey inhabitant within its restricted range in Colombia, currently classified as a species of Least Concern.

Identification

• Song is considerably faster and lower-pitched than that of the closely related Ecuadorian tapaculo (S. robbinsi).
• Primarily identified through vocal characteristics, as no specific physical plumage, size, or marking details are provided in the reference material.

Habitat

This species is found in montane forest between 1,420 and 2,130 m altitude in the northern Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes. Although its range is restricted, it has been recorded at 21 sites within this area.

Did you know?

The species was named in honour of Frank Gary Stiles, an ornithologist who played a prominent role in research into Neotropical birds in the 1980s and 1990s. Its discovery followed the examination of song recordings in the 1990s that suggested the birds were distinct from the Ecuadorian tapaculo.