Scytalopus novacapitalis
The Brasilia Tapaculo (Scytalopus novacapitalis) is a highly secretive and endemic passerine, belonging to the family Rhinocryptidae, known for its cryptic plumage and distinctive vocalizations. Averaging 11-12 cm in length and weighing 16-20 grams, adults display a dark slaty-gray plumage, darker on the crown and back, with a slightly paler throat and belly. Its most distinctive field marks are its mouse-like movements through dense undergrowth, short tail, and relatively long, strong legs, ...
Found exclusively in the dense undergrowth of humid gallery forests and adjacent wet campo grasslands within the Central Brazilian Cerrado biome, typically at elevations between 800 and 1200 meters.
Feeds predominantly on small invertebrates, including various insects such as beetles, ants, and larvae, which it gleans from the ground and low vegetation within dense undergrowth.
This highly secretive bird is primarily terrestrial and active during dawn, dusk, and early morning, spending most of its time hidden deep within dense vegetation. It forages by gleaning small invertebrates from the leaf litter and low-lying plants, using its strong legs to hop and dart through t...
The Brasilia Tapaculo is endemic to the Central Brazilian Cerrado biome, with its distribution highly localized within and around the Federal District, eastern Goiás, and northwestern Minas Gerais states. This species is non-migratory, remaining resident throughout its restricted range, which pri...
Vulnerable
- Its scientific name, *novacapitalis*, is a direct nod to Brasília, the 'new capital' of Brazil, near where the species was first discovered in 1958. - Tapaculos are famously more often heard than seen; their loud, persistent calls are the primary means of detection for these extremely shy birds...