Trilling tapaculo

Taxonomy and systematics

The trilling tapaculo was previously considered a subspecies of unicolored tapaculo (Scytalopus unicolor) but was elevated to species status based on differences in their vocalizations. Though it is monophyletic, there are song variations in different parts of its range that suggest that there might be undefined subspecies.

Description

The trilling tapaculo is 10.5 cm long. Males weigh 17.5 to and females 15.4 to. Adult males are usually dark gray above and lighter gray below, though sometimes dark gray all over. The flanks and crissum (the area around the cloaca) are dark reddish brown with dusky bars. The female is similar to the male but paler with a dark brown wash. The juvenile is similar to the female with the addition of a scaly appearance due to yellowish edges to feathers.

Distribution and habitat

The trilling tapaculo is found on the east slope of the Andes from southern Amazonas, Peru, southeastward to western Santa Cruz in Bolivia. It inhabits the undergrowth of humid montane forest between the elevations of 1800 and in Peru. In Bolivia it is found from 2000 to and locally to 3300 m.

Behavior

Feeding

The trilling tapaculo forages in dense undergrowth alone or in pairs, on or near the ground. Its diet has not been studied.

Breeding

Until a 2014 publication nothing was known about the trilling tapaculo's breeding biology other than that a juvenile was collected in July.

Vocalization

The trilling tapaculo's song gives it its name. The trill's pace varies geographically, at 21 notes per second in central Peru https://www.xeno-canto.org/46784, 14 in southern Peru https://www.xeno-canto.org/252398, and 20 to 28 in Bolivia https://www.xeno-canto.org/102433. Its scold is similar but shorter https://www.xeno-canto.org/20186 and it also has a single-note call https://www.xeno-canto.org/46791.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the trilling tapaculo as being of Least Concern. It has a large range, and though its population has not been quantified it is believed to be fairly large and stable.

References

References

1. BirdLife International. (2016). "''Scytalopus parvirostris''".
2. (January 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)".
3. Krabbe, N. and Schulenberg, T.S. (1997). Species limits and natural history of ''Scytalopus'' tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species. Pp. 46–88 in: Remsen (1997)
4. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021
5. Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Trilling Tapaculo (''Scytalopus parvirostris''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.tritap1.01 retrieved April 30, 2021
6. (2014). "First description of nest, eggs, incubation behavior, and nestlings of Trilling Tapaculo (''Scytalopus parvirostris'')". Wilson Journal of Ornithology.