Urubamba Antpitta
Grallaria occabambae
Plump, mostly terrestrial bird with long legs and a short tail found at high elevations in the eastern Andes of southern Peru. Plumage is mostly chestnut brown but is slightly paler on the belly. Similar to Leymebamba Antpitta, but larger, longer legged, and lacks gray in the plumage. The white eyering helps to separate it from Ayacucho Antpitta. Voice is also very helpful for ID; depending on location, it gives either three quick whistles with a pause after the first, or just two whistles. Also sometimes sings a longer, decelerating series of around ten notes. Usually stays well-hidden on or near the forest floor. Formerly considered a subspecies of what used to be called Rufous Antpitta.
Taxonomy
The Urubamba antpitta was first described as a subspecies of rufous antpitta in 1923, but a 2020 study found that differences in plumage and vocalizations warrant elevation to species. <p>There are two subspecies of Urubamba antpitta: G. o. occabambae and G. o. marcapatensis. They are distinguishable by minor plumage differences and differences in song.<p>The common name was given by Charles B. Cory and Carl Edward Hellmayr in 1924 and is named for the type locality of the species: Urubamba, Peru. The subspecies' specific name, marcapatensis, comes from for the Marcapata district where the type specimen was found.
- Scientific name
- Grallaria occabambae
- Authority
- (Chapman, 1923)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Grallariidae
- Genus
- Grallaria
Range and habitat
The Urubamba antpitta is endemic to the Peruvian departments of Junín and Cusco. Subspecies G. o. occabambae is found west of the Yanatili river valley, and subspecies G. o. marcapatensis is found to the Yanatili's east. It inhabits humid montane forest and prefers the understory or forest floor. It is found at elevations of 2,450–3,650 m.<p>The Urubamba antpitta is separated from the closely related Ayacucho antpitta by the Apurímac river.
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Gallinago gallinago
Squat, cryptically-plumaged shorebird with a very long bill. Inhabits a wide range of wetland habitats, from damp meadows to saltmarshes. Mostly inconspicuous, feeding in muddy ground by probing with its bill, usually near reeds or other grassy cover. Often not seen until flushed, when it usually rises from fairly close range with a rough rasping call. Breeding birds are more conspicuous, perching on fence posts. In display flight, birds stoop from high overhead and produce a pulsating, bleating sound from air passing through their fanned tail. In Asia, beware of extremely similar Pin-tailed, Swinhoe's, and Latham's Snipes, all of which lack the white trailing edge of Common and have a slower, less erratic flight.
Superciliated Wren
Cantorchilus superciliaris
This brown-and-white wren has an amazingly loud voice for its size. It inhabits dry forest and scrub in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Note the barred wings and tail, white throat and face, and dark stripe behind the eye (which is inconspicuous on some birds). Usually stays inside dense tangles, where it can be especially hard to see during the rainy season after the vegetation leafs out. Gives a large variety of far-carrying songs and calls.
Chestnut-collared Swallow
Petrochelidon rufocollaris
Handsome swallow restricted to relatively dry regions of western Ecuador and western Peru. Plumage is blue and white with chestnut collar, breast band, sides, rump, and forehead. Similar to Cliff Swallow, which is a rare migrant within the range of Chestnut-collared, but note the chestnut breast band and lack of white on the forehead. Most often encountered around cities and towns, where it nests colonially in the eaves of buildings.
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