Long-tailed Tapaculo (Scytalopus micropterus)

Identification & Behavior: ~14 cm (5.7 in). The adult Long-tailed Tapaculo is dark gray with flanks, rump, and vent rufous, barred with black. The female is similar but has lighter coloration and more rufous on the flanks. The juvenile is dusky with rufous barring. It has a relatively long tail that the bird often cocks.  It forages in the understory of bamboo alone or in pairs. Due to their secretive habits, extreme similarity among species and the generally low light in the places they inhabit, positive identification of a tapaculo in the field is often impossible. However, their loud and stereotyped songs and calls are given frequently and constitute the safest way to identify them to the species level. The Long-tailed Tapaculo is similar to the Chusquea Tapaculo but occurs at lower elevations.

Status: Endemic. The Long-tailed Tapaculo is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes, north, and west of the Maranon Valley, at elevations ranging between 1500-2000 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Tapaculo de Cola Larga.

Sub-species: Long-tailed Tapaculo (Scytalopus micropterus), (P. L. Sclater), 1858bird or devil of the woods.

Go to the Family Rhinocryptidae