- Scytalopus androstictus
Identification
10-10.5 cm
Male
- Overall medium to dark grey
- One mm wide barring of black and brown found on rump, tips of tertials, lower flank, and undertail coverts
- Most males have white on most or all upperwing primary coverts.
Female Similar but with brown wash on rear upperside and flanks, pinkish-buff central belly and more extensive barring.
Similar species
Paramo Tapaculo from Colombia is virtualy identical except for the white on the wing of most males. Best separated by voice. Parapatric tapaculos include Chusquea Tapaculo in lower elevation at the east slope of Andes and Blackish Tapaculo on the western slope.
Distribution
South America: Andes of southeastern Ecuador and extreme northern Peru.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
This species was formerly considered part of Paramo Tapaculo.
Habitat
Dense scrub at 3000-3650 m asl (near the tree line) and in exposed areas possibly down a couple hundred meters further.
Behaviour
Very difficult to observe as it hides in vegetation. Presumably, insects is an important source of food.
Vocalisation
Main song is similar to Paramo Tapaculo except that there are no introductory notes and it sometimes continues for much longer. It is a trill of 29-43 notes per second which usually continues for 4-12 seconds but has been recorded up to two minutes. There might be a slight slowing of the trill towards the end.
The call differs from its closest relatives in that it is a one-second version of the song.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Kirwan, G. M. and P. F. D. Boesman (2022). Loja Tapaculo (Scytalopus androstictus), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (B. K. Keeney, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.partap4.02
- Krabbe & Cadena 2010. Paper descibing the taxon that became this species with voice descriptions
- Krabbe et al. 2020. Paper calling for this Tapaculo to become a full species.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Loja Tapaculo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Loja_Tapaculo
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
