Spillmann's Tapaculo
Scytalopus spillmanni
A standard Scytalopus tapaculo: plain dark gray with browner flanks and rump. Acts like a mouse, scurrying around on or near the ground within montane forest. Very difficult to see, but quite common in its range in the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. Occurs from around 1,900–3,200 m, which is typically higher than Nariño Tapaculo. Averages slightly lower in elevation than Blackish Tapaculo, but plenty of overlap. Note the very different song. More often heard than seen. Listen for a trill so fast that you can’t distinguish individual notes.
Identification
Spillmann's tapaculo is 12 cm (4.7 in) long. Males weigh 21 to 30 g (0.74 to 1.06 oz) and females 20 to 29.5 g (0.71 to 1.04 oz). The male is blackish gray above with a dark brown rump. It is lighter gray below with tawny to cinnamon flanks and vent area. Some females are like the male, but most have the upperparts heavily washed with brown and an orange lower belly. The juvenile is brown above and dusky below, with barring above and below.
Taxonomy
The Spillmann's tapaculo was previously considered a subspecies of brown-rumped tapaculo (Scytalopus latebircola) but was elevated to species rank due to differences in their vocalizations. It and chusquea tapaculo (S. parkeri) form a superspecies. The population in Colombia's eastern Andes might be different enoung to be a subspecies.
- Scientific name
- Scytalopus spillmanni
- Authority
- Stresemann, 1937
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Genus
- Scytalopus
Range and habitat
Spillmann's tapaculo is found in all three Andean ranges of Colombia and south into Ecuador. In the west it extends to Cotopaxi Province and in the east into Morona-Santiago Province. It inhabits the undergrowth of humid montane forest and is especially partial to Chusquea bamboo. It ranges generally from 1,900 to 3,200 m (6,200 to 10,500 ft) but is found locally up to 3,500 m (11,500 ft) and as high as 3,700 m (12,100 ft) in western Napo Province, Ecuador.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Spillmann's tapaculo forages on the ground or near it, mostly for small insects.<p>Little is known about the breeding phenology of Spillmann's tapaculo, but it probably breeds throughout the year.<p>The song of Spillmann's tapaculo is a 10 to 20 second trill whose volume and sometime pitch increase [1]. The male and female have several calls such as [2], [3], and [4].
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Guayaquil Woodpecker
Campephilus gayaquilensis
Large woodpecker found in both dry and humid forest in western Ecuador, northwestern Peru, and far southwestern Colombia. Note red head, white “V” on black back, white neck stripes, and barred lower underparts. On female, white neck stripe extends to beak. Similar to Lineated Woodpecker, but Guyaquil Woodpecker’s back stripes converge in a “V”, and it lacks a dark mask around the eye. Often perches on dead trees, and periodically pounds out a loud, powerful burst of knocks.
Amethyst Brown-Dove
Phapitreron amethystinus
A medium-sized dove of foothill and montane forest. Brown on the upperparts, head, and chest, with a grayish belly and pale gray corners to the tail. Note the pale streak under the eye and the bare pink facial skin in front of and behind it. Similar to White-eared Brown-Dove, but Amethyst has purplish iridescence on the back of the neck and pale buff under the base of the tail. Voice includes a deep “hoop,” given singly or in series of two or three. Also gives a deep growling sound.
Pale-billed Sicklebill
Drepanornis bruijnii
A large, long-billed bird of lowland forest. Brown upperparts with black head and grayish facial skin behind the eye. Note the curved, pale bill. Male has a black throat, sides and two small, hornlike tufts on the head. Female has pale underparts with dark barring. Similar to female Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise and Magnificent Riflebird, but female Pale-billed Sicklebill has a longer, thinner, more curved bill. One of several vocalizations, a descending series of low whistles, reminiscent of Common Potoo.
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