Scytalopus perijanus
The Perija Tapaculo (Scytalopus perijanus) is a remarkably small and cryptic passerine, measuring about 10.5-11 cm in length and weighing between 18-20 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a dark, slaty-gray, contrasting with distinctive rufous-brown flanks that are finely barred with blackish patterns. Given its highly secretive nature and preference for dense undergrowth, visual identification in the field is extremely challenging; it is most reliably identified by its unique, monotonous, an...
This species primarily inhabits humid cloud forest, elfin forest, and the shrubby edges of páramo, typically found at high elevations between 1,600 and 3,200 meters above sea level.
Its diet primarily consists of small invertebrates, including various insects and spiders, which it gleans from leaf litter and undergrowth.
The Perija Tapaculo is a highly terrestrial and cryptic bird, spending most of its time hidden within dense undergrowth and rarely venturing into the open. It is most active at dawn and dusk, although its persistent vocalizations can be heard throughout the day as it forages by hopping on the gro...
The Perija Tapaculo is a strict endemic, with its entire known range confined to the isolated Serranía de Perijá, a mountain range that forms part of the border between northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. In Colombia, it is found in the departments of Cesar and La Guajira, while in ...
Vulnerable
- Discovered and formally described only in 2015, making it one of the newest avian species to science. - Named after the remote Serranía de Perijá, a mountain range on the Colombia-Venezuela border where it is exclusively found. - Its distinctive, rapid churring song is often the only way birder...