Large-footed Tapaculo
Scytalopus macropus
Small, gray bird found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in northern and central Peru. Adults are plain gray; young birds are marked with brown and buff. As with many other tapaculos, geographical range and voice are critical for identification. This species does not overlap with Unicolored Tapaculo, but confusion is possible with Blackish Tapaculo and Tschudi’s Tapaculo. Typical song is a steady and seemingly endless series of soft, frog-like calls, slower-paced than Blackish Tapaculo. Inhabits dense understory, especially near streams, and very hard to see.
Identification
The large-footed tapaculo is 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Males weigh 36 to 43 g (1.3 to 1.5 oz) and two females weighed 32 and 32.5 g (1.13 and 1.15 oz). It is the largest species of genus Scytalopus. The adult is uniformly very dark gray. The juvenile is paler than the adult, but still dark gray. The feathers of the juvenile's upperparts are tipped with dark brown and those of the underparts with buff or off-white.
Taxonomy
Unlike many other tapaculos, the large-footed tapaculo has been treated as a species since it was described. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Scytalopus macropus
- Authority
- Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Genus
- Scytalopus
Range and habitat
The large-footed tapaculo is found only in the central Andes of Peru, from southern Amazonas Department south to Junín Department. It primarily inhabits mossy undergrowth along streams in elfin forest and cloud forest. It ranges in elevation from 2,400 to 3,500 m (7,900 to 11,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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