Slate-crowned Antpitta
Grallaricula nana
Small and fairly bright antpitta found in subtropics from Venezuela to extreme northern Peru. Typical antpitta shape, but smaller: plump and short-tailed with long legs. Warm tawny below and duller brown above with contrasting gray crown. Messy buffy face and eyering. Breast usually looks somewhat scalloped. Sexes similar. Shy and difficult to see; stays on or near the ground in montane forest, usually within bamboo thickets. More arboreal than the larger antpittas; often seen perched several feet off the ground. Listen for song, a descending series of high-pitched whistles “pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi.” Disjunct population on tepuis of Venezuela and Guyana possibly a separate species.
Identification
Small and fairly bright antpitta found in subtropics from Venezuela to extreme northern Peru. Typical antpitta shape, but smaller: plump and short-tailed with long legs. Warm tawny below and duller brown above with contrasting gray crown. Messy buffy face and eyering. Breast usually looks somewhat scalloped. Sexes similar. Shy and difficult to see; stays on or near the ground in montane forest, usually within bamboo thickets. More arboreal than the larger antpittas; often seen perched several feet off the ground. Listen for song, a descending series of high-pitched whistles “pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi.” Disjunct population on tepuis of Venezuela and Guyana possibly a separate species.
Taxonomy
Genus: Grallaricula; Family: Grallariidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Grallaricula nana
- Authority
- (Lafresnaye, 1842)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Grallariidae
- Genus
- Grallaricula
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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