Stiles's Tapaculo
NameStiles's Tapaculo
Common NameStiles's Tapaculo
Scientific NameScytalopus stilesi
FamilyRhinocryptidae
Wingspan (cm)13.5
Length (cm)10.5
Weight (g)17.5
Plumage DetailsPredominantly dark gray to blackish plumage, often with a slightly paler belly and brownish wash or faint barring on the flanks and rump. The bill and legs are dark.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalization is a rapid, accelerating series of churring or rattling notes, often described as a "churr-churr-churr-churr" that increases in speed and intensity.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to the Central and Western Andes of Colombia, typically found at elevations between 1,400 and 2,200 meters.
Identifying Featuressmall size, dark plumage, skulking behavior, distinctive churring call, found in dense montane forest undergrowth
Description
This small, dark, and elusive bird inhabits the dense undergrowth of montane cloud forests. It is primarily identified by its distinctive, often repetitive vocalizations rather than visual sightings, as it typically forages on or near the ground.
