White-crowned Tapaculo
NameWhite-crowned Tapaculo
Common NameWhite-crowned Tapaculo
Scientific NameScytalopus atratus
FamilyRhinocryptidae
Wingspan (cm)16
Length (cm)11.5
Weight (g)21
Plumage DetailsEntirely dark sooty-black plumage, with a small, often inconspicuous, white patch on the crown. Some subspecies may show faint brownish barring on the flanks.
Vocalization / CallA distinctive, repetitive, mechanical-sounding call consisting of a series of short, rapid, churring or trilling notes that often accelerate.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Andes Mountains of South America, from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru, extending into Bolivia.
Identifying Featuressmall size, dark sooty plumage, white crown patch, upright, flicking tail, strong legs, distinctive churring call
Description
A small, dark, and secretive bird found in the dense undergrowth of humid montane forests. It forages on the forest floor, often flicking its short tail upwards, and is more often heard than seen due to its skulking nature.
