Ecuadorian Tapaculo
NameEcuadorian Tapaculo
Common NameEcuadorian Tapaculo
Scientific NameScytalopus robbinsi
FamilyRhinocryptidae
Wingspan (cm)13.5
Length (cm)11.5
Weight (g)20
Plumage DetailsPredominantly dark sooty-gray to blackish plumage, often with a brownish wash on the flanks and rump, sometimes with faint barring on the lower flanks.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a distinctive, rapid, and repetitive series of 'churr' or 'chuck' notes, often accelerating and rising in pitch.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeEndemic to the humid montane forests of southwestern Ecuador, primarily in the provinces of El Oro and Loja.
Identifying Featuressmall size, dark sooty plumage, short, cocked tail, strong legs and feet, skulking behavior, distinctive repetitive call
Description
A small, dark, and elusive bird found in the dense undergrowth of humid montane forests. It is more often detected by its distinctive vocalizations than by sight, typically hopping on or near the ground.
