Rock Tapaculo
Scytalopus petrophilus
A small mostly gray tapaculo with brown and rusty streaks on the belly and vent. The tail is short and usually held cocked. Inhabits rocky and shrubby areas at high elevations where it forages by hopping on the ground. The song is a long and repeated series of “chip-chip-chip” notes.
Taxonomy
In 2006, doubt about the use of the scientific name S. speluncae for the mouse-coloured tapaculo surfaced. An examination of the type specimen of S. speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835) resulted in the conclusion that this name belonged to a relatively pale population from the Espinhaço Mountains that had been included within S. novacapitalis (vocally, this population is closer to S. pachecoi). This meant that the relatively dark population of the Serra do Mar region –the population that traditionally had been called S. speluncae– had to receive a new name: S. notorius ("notorius" to illustrate its problematic taxonomic history). This conclusion was questioned in 2007, which maintained that the population of the Serra do Mar region is S. speluncae, while the population of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains was considered undescribed, and the population of the northernmost Espinhaço Mountains was described as a new species, S. diamantinensis. Although the possibility of two species in the Espinhaço Mountains was not questioned in an article published the following year, the conclusion that the name S. speluncae belonged to the species of the Serra do Mar was; mainly on the basis that no direct comparison of the type specimen of S. speluncae had been made in 2007 (unlike in the article from 2006). In 2010, other authors came to a different conclusion, as they suggested the original description by Édouard Ménétries in 1835 more closely matched the relatively dark species of the Serra do Mar region. They also concluded that the original type locality of São João del Rei (within the range of the relatively pale central and south Espinhaço Mountains species) provided by Ménétries was incorrect, and it actually was collected somewhere in central Rio de Janeiro (within the range of the Serra do Mar species). Following this, the relatively pale species of the southern and central Espinhaço Mountains region was described as a new species, S. petrophilus. This view was supported by SACC.<p>Phylogenetic evidence suggests that undescribed taxa from the genus Scytalopus remain in eastern Brazil.<p>Regardless of the correct scientific name, three different English names have been used for the relatively pale species of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains: Mouse-coloured tapaculo (used briefly by Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos, but not anymore), Espinhaço tapaculo and rock tapaculo. The name mouse-coloured tapaculo is likely to cause confusion, as it, until 2006, always had been used for other populations, and most, if not all, Scytalopus tapaculos are largely mouse-grey in colour. The northernmost population in the Espinhaço Mountains is now considered a separate species, S. diamantinensis, which makes the name Espinhaço tapaculo for the population in the central and southern part of this range non-unique. Many species of tapaculos are found in rocky habitats, and the species of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains is not entirely restricted to rocky habitats, which makes the name rock tapaculo less than perfect.
- Scientific name
- Scytalopus petrophilus
- Authority
- Whitney, de Vasconcelos, Silveira & Pacheco, 2010
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Genus
- Scytalopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Crimson Chat
Epthianura tricolor
Brightly colored, terrestrial songbird of arid inland Australia. Breeding male has crimson crown and belly, gray back, black mask, white throat, pale eye, and blackish wings with narrow pale wingbars. Nonbreeding male more muted, with only hints of crimson. Female similar to nonbreeding male but paler around the face. Usually seen in small groups hopping along the ground in open areas.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Breeding adult males are striking black and white with bright red triangle on breast. Nonbreeding males, females, and immatures are streaky below with a bold head pattern. Always look for the very thick, pale pinkish bill. Fairly common and widespread in eastern North America, especially in deciduous forests. Winters to northern South America. Visits feeders. Listen for sweet robinlike song and squeaky call. Females are sometimes confused with Purple Finch but note much larger overall size, large pinkish bill, and bolder white markings on wings. Also compare females and immature males with extremely similar Black-headed Grosbeak, which is usually identifiable by range. Rose-breasted usually has more extensive, coarser streaking on underparts and usually lacks orange tones.
Samoan Island-Thrush
Turdus samoensis
Dark thrush with orange bill, eyering, legs, and feet. Endemic to Samoa, where found only at the highest elevations and generally not often encountered. Forages at all levels of forest, including on the forest floor. Calls include harsh chupping calls, often given in bursts.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.