Scytalopus opacus
The Paramo Tapaculo (Scytalopus opacus) is a diminutive, highly secretive songbird endemic to the high Andes, embodying the cryptic nature of its family, Rhinocryptidae. Measuring approximately 10.5-12 cm (4.1-4.7 inches) in length and weighing 16-21 grams, it presents a drab but effective camouflage with its dark slate-gray plumage, often appearing darker in males. Its most distinctive field marks are its often dull brownish flanks with faint dusky barring, relatively pale feet, and a charac...
Exclusively found in high-altitude paramo, stunted montane scrub, and dense bamboo thickets, typically above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in humid, mossy environments.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates such as insects and spiders, which it gleans from the ground, leaf litter, and dense undergrowth.
This exceptionally secretive bird spends almost all its time scurrying mouse-like through the dense undergrowth, rarely venturing into the open or flying long distances. It forages primarily on the ground or in low vegetation, gleaning small invertebrates from leaf litter and moss. Paramo Tapacul...
The Paramo Tapaculo is a resident species found exclusively in the high-altitude paramo and montane scrub ecosystems of the Andes in South America. Its distribution stretches from southern Colombia (primarily Nariño department), through Ecuador, and into northern Peru. The species' range is fragm...
Least Concern
- The name "tapaculo" literally means "cover butt" in Spanish, a humorous but apt description of its habit of staying hidden. - It is one of the highest-dwelling tapaculos, perfectly adapted to the harsh, cold, and humid conditions of the Andean paramo. - Due to its extreme elusiveness, it is far...