Scytalopus androstictus
The Loja Tapaculo (Scytalopus androstictus) is a captivating, recently recognized species of tapaculo, a group of highly secretive, ground-dwelling passerines endemic to the Andes. Measuring approximately 11-12 cm in length and weighing around 18-22 grams, this small, robust bird sports a predominantly dark gray plumage, with a darker crown and back, contrasting with a paler throat and belly. Its most distinctive field marks, crucial for species identification among this notoriously similar g...
This species inhabits dense undergrowth of humid montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and paramo edge habitats. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 2,300 to 3,700 meters above sea level.
The diet of the Loja Tapaculo consists mainly of small invertebrates, including insects like beetles, ants, and spiders. They primarily forage by gleaning from leaf litter and low vegetation on the forest floor.
Loja Tapaculos are highly elusive birds, primarily active during the early morning and late afternoon, spending most of their time foraging on or near the forest floor. They move with a characteristic mouse-like scurry through dense vegetation, rarely perching in the open. Their foraging strategy...
The Loja Tapaculo is narrowly endemic to the northern Andes of South America, with its known distribution spanning southern Ecuador and northern Peru. In Ecuador, its range extends through the provinces of Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe, particularly in the Cordillera del Condor and adjacent ranges. I...
Vulnerable
- The Loja Tapaculo was only formally described as a distinct species in 2020, highlighting the ongoing discovery of biodiversity in the Andes. - Its scientific name, *androstictus*, derives from Greek, meaning 'man-spotted', a playful reference to ornithologist Jonas Nilsson, who first recognize...