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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