Variegated Antpitta
NameVariegated Antpitta
Common NameVariegated Antpitta
Scientific NameGrallaria varia
FamilyGrallariidae
Wingspan (cm)28
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)90
Plumage DetailsThe head is dark with fine pale scaling, featuring a pale buffy loral patch and a white crescent behind the eye. The upperparts are olive-brown with fine black scaling, while the underparts are heavily barred and scaled with black and white or buffy, creating a variegated pattern. The wings are distinctly rufous-brown.
Vocalization / CallIts song is a series of loud, clear, whistled notes, often accelerating and rising in pitch, typically described as 'whee-whee-whee-WHEE-WHEE-WHEE'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in South America, primarily across the Amazon basin (including southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and Amazonian Brazil) and in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.
Identifying FeaturesPlump, round body, Long legs, Short tail, Scaly head pattern, Variegated/barred underparts, Rufous wings, Shy, ground-dwelling behavior
Description
The Variegated Antpitta is a plump, medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird with long legs and a short tail. It is typically shy and often heard more than seen, foraging in the dense undergrowth of humid forests.
