Ash-colored Tapaculo
Myornis senilis
Moderately distinctive as far as tapaculos go, with its pale gray color, pale tawny undertail coverts, and notably long tail. Found in the Andes from Colombia to Peru, where it is difficult to see in the dense understory. Especially fond of areas with bamboo. Listen for the song: a long, often stuttered trill, usually with some harsh introductory notes.
Identification
The ash-colored tapaculo is 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Males weigh 20 to 23.5 g (0.71 to 0.83 oz) and females 18.1 to 24.5 g (0.64 to 0.86 oz). The adult's upper parts are medium gray and the underparts a lighter gray. Some have cinnamon on the flanks and crissum. The juvenile's upper parts are reddish brown and the underparts ochre brown. There are some differences in measurements and the darkness of the plumage between populations on either side of the Andes.
Taxonomy
The ash-colored tapaculo is the only member of its genus and has no subspecies. It has sometimes been placed in the large genus Scytalopus.
- Scientific name
- Myornis senilis
- Authority
- (Lafresnaye, 1840)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Genus
- Myornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The ash-colored tapaculo's diet has not been studied. It is known to forage from near the ground up to 4 m (13 ft) above it in the bamboo and cane; it seldom forages on the ground.<p>Very little is known about the ash-colored tapaculo's breeding phenology. Fledglings have been noted in June in Ecuador and in August in Peru.<p>The ash-colored tapaculo's song is complex. It begins with "tick" repeated irregularly for up to a minute, followed by a three to four second trill described as "hysterical laughter" which is then often repeated [1]. The alarm call is a dry trill.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Winding Cisticola
Cisticola marginatus
Relatively colorful, mid-sized, long-tailed cisticola of wetlands. Note the brown back with thick black streaks, rufous on the wing and cap, and whitish underparts. Shows geographical variation in overall richness of color, including rufous cap and wing patch. Found in wetland habitats, especially reedbeds, and locally in wet scrub. Song varies across the range. Most populations give a high, rising trill. Some sing with rough “chyup” notes. Similar to Levaillant’s Cisticola, but Winding has a gray or brown tail and an unstreaked rump. Relatively bold colors separate the two from other cisticolas.
Dambo Cisticola
Cisticola dambo
Small cisticola that is pale and buffy below, and dark on the back. The crown, back of the neck, and back are heavily streaked. Note specific habitat preferences, which can help with identification: found in seepage zones of seasonally wet grasslands, alongside but in wetter situations than Wing-snapping Cisticolas, but avoiding the seasonally flooded habitat of Pale-crowned Cisticola. Very similar to Wing-snapping and Pale-crowned Cisticolas, but longer-tailed than both, and further distinguished from Pale-crowned in breeding plumage by the streaked crown. Also similar to Zitting and Desert Cisticolas, but has a different voice, and is darker on the back. Song consists of nasal notes, given from a low perch (termite mound or grass stem) or occasional brief display flight at grass top height. In contrast to other small cisticolas, it does not have a true aerial display flight.
Prince Ruspoli's Turaco
Menelikornis ruspolii
A spectacular green turaco with a fluffy whitish crest. Shows large crimson wing patches in flight. An Ethiopian endemic that is found very locally in lush woodland and scrub, often in areas with fruiting trees. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Calls include a hollow series of “krow” notes and a series of high-pitched, metallic calls. Similar to White-cheeked Turaco, but easily separated by its pale crest and lack of white facial markings.
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