Scytalopus micropterus
The Long-tailed Tapaculo (*Scytalopus micropterus*) is a highly secretive and vocally distinctive member of the Rhinocryptidae family, endemic to the humid montane forests of the Andes. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm in length, including its characteristic long tail, and weighing 22-26 grams, this small suboscine passerine is primarily dark slaty-grey to blackish, subtly marked with faint reddish-brown barring on its lower flanks and vent. Its most defining field mark, and the inspiration f...
This species exclusively inhabits humid montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and dense bamboo thickets, primarily at elevations between 1500 and 3300 meters in the Andes.
Primarily insectivorous, the Long-tailed Tapaculo feeds on a variety of small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, larvae, and spiders, foraging actively in the leaf litter and dense undergrowth.
The Long-tailed Tapaculo is an intensely secretive, terrestrial bird, spending most of its time scurrying through dense undergrowth and leaf litter, making visual observation a rare treat. It forages by hopping and walking, meticulously gleaning invertebrates from the forest floor, mossy logs, an...
The Long-tailed Tapaculo is endemic to the northern and central Andes of South America, with its primary breeding range extending from southern Colombia (specifically departments like Cauca and Nariño), southward through the entire Andean chain of Ecuador, and into northern Peru (departments such...
Least Concern
- The scientific name *micropterus* ironically means 'small-winged' or 'short-winged,' a characteristic common to tapaculos due to their terrestrial nature, contrasting sharply with its 'long-tailed' common name. - Unlike many birds identified by sight, this tapaculo is almost exclusively identif...