Unicolored Tapaculo
Scytalopus unicolor
Small, gray bird found only in the western Andes of northern Peru. Adult is plain gray, lacking any black or brown barring on lower underparts. Young birds are browner and heavily scaled with gray and buff. Inhabits forest understory and heard much more often than seen. Listen for soft frog-like notes that are given alone or in a series of accelerating bursts.
Identification
The unicolored tapaculo is 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long. The male is gray, darker above and lighter below. Its rear (above and below) sometimes has a slightly light brown wash. The female is similar but the brown wash is more often darker. The immature is brown above and dull yellowish below, with spots and bars on the belly and flanks respectively.
Taxonomy
The unicolored tapaculo is monotypic. However, it previously included blackish tapaculo (Scytalopus latrans) and trilling tapaculo (S. parvirostris) as subspecies.
- Scientific name
- Scytalopus unicolor
- Authority
- Salvin, 1895
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Genus
- Scytalopus
Range and habitat
The unicolored tapaculo is found only in southern Cajamarca Department and La Libertad Department of northwestern Peru. It inhabits the dense understory of humid montane forest on the east side of the Andes at elevations of 2,000 to 3,170 m (6,560 to 10,400 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The unicolored tapaculo's diet is unknown as are its foraging and breeding phenologies. Its song is a short series of notes whose pace increases [1]. Its call is a single note [2].
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Olive-gray Saltator
Saltator olivascens
Fairly common, but often retiring, in tropical lowlands of both drier and more humid areas in northern South America. Occurs from sea level to around 1,500 m elevation. Favors forest edge, second growth thickets, hedges, and tangles, especially with morning glory flowers, which it munches quietly. Note plain grayish coloration with browner vent and short white eyebrow. Despite the common name, adults have at best only a slight olivaceous tinge. Immature looks slightly different, with a yellowish wash to the face and upperparts. Listen for sweet song of short whistled phrases.
Black-naped Oriole
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Typical yellow and black Old World oriole. Male entirely golden-yellow apart from black wings and tail and a broad black band through the eyes. The tail and wings have yellow tips. The bill is deep pinkish. Female similar to the male but with more yellowish-green upperparts. Juveniles show streaked underparts. Found in a variety of forest habitats, including plantations and gardens; forages in forest canopy.
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