Acropternis orthonyx
The Ocellated Tapaculo (Acropternis orthonyx) is a strikingly patterned, medium-sized Neotropical passerine, typically measuring 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length and weighing between 65-80 grams (2.3-2.8 oz). Its most distinctive and unique field mark, giving it its name, is the bold array of white, black-edged ocelli (eye-spots) adorning its chest and flanks, contrasting sharply with its otherwise deep chestnut-rufous plumage. The head and upper back are a glossy black, often accented by ...
Inhabits humid, mossy montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and paramo edge habitats, typically found at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 meters (6,500-11,500 feet). It prefers dense undergrowth, bamboo thickets, and areas with plentiful leaf litter.
Primarily insectivorous, the Ocellated Tapaculo feeds on a variety of insects and other small arthropods, including beetles, spiders, and larvae. It forages by meticulously scratching and probing through leaf litter, moss, and decaying vegetation on the forest floor.
The Ocellated Tapaculo is an exceptionally shy, terrestrial bird, spending almost all its time foraging on or very near the forest floor, frequently detected by sound rather than sight. It employs a distinctive foraging strategy, vigorously probing and scratching through leaf litter, moss, and ro...
The Ocellated Tapaculo is an endemic resident of the high Andes of South America. Its distribution extends from the Central and Eastern Andes of Colombia, southward through the Andes of Ecuador, and into the extreme northern Andes of Peru, specifically found in the departments of Cajamarca and Am...
Least Concern
- The Ocellated Tapaculo is one of the largest and most uniquely patterned members of the Rhinocryptidae family, known for their skulking habits. - Its scientific name, Acropternis orthonyx, combines Greek words meaning 'high-wing' (referring to its montane habitat) and 'straight-claw' (describin...