Birds of Colombia

    PASSERIFORMES: Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)  
Genus: Scytalopus (16 species, 49 worldwide)

Genus Scytalopus, Tapaculos, are small black or grey insect-eating birds found in thick brush in the forest understory, and very rarely seen. Most tapaculos in this genus are so similar that they can only be identified by voice, usually a long repeating call.


Tatama Tapaculo
Tatama Tapaculo (Scytalopus alvarezlopezi) Immature Near Threatened ENDEMIC
ProAves Tangaras Reserve, El Carmen de Atrato, Choco, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A newly described species found in a narrow rainy corridor at around 1600m. Compare to Stiles's Tapaculo found on the other side of the Cauca Valley.

White-crowned Tapaculo
White-crowned Tapaculo (Scytalopus atratus)
ProAves Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve, AnorĂ­, Antioquia, Colombia
  White crown (really just a spot) barely visible in this photo.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A tiny bit less secretive than most tapaculos. Found from 1000-2000m in Andean forests.

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Paramillo Tapaculo (Scytalopus canus) Near Threatened ENDEMIC
   


Split from the Paramo Tapaculo. Found only near the paramo of Urrao.


Choco Tapaculo
Choco Tapaculo (Scytalopus chocoensis)
Queremal, Valle del Cauca, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Bad side shot.

Pale-bellied Tapaculo
Pale-bellied Tapaculo (Scytalopus griseicollis griseicollis) ENDEMIC
Chingaza National Park, Colombia
  Note pale belly. As with almost all tapaculos, difficult to see well.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Brown-rumped Tapaculo
Brown-rumped Tapaculo (Scytalopus latebricola) Near Threatened ENDEMIC
Colombia  
   
Photograph by Terry S. Baltimore   © All Rights Reserved.

Found over 2000m in the Santa Marta Sierra Nevada.

Blackish Tapaculo
Blackish Tapaculo (Scytalopus latrans latrans)
San Sebastian Reserve, Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Commonly heard around 2000-3000m and with a slower more bird-like call than many other tapaculos.

Long-tailed Tapaculo
Long-tailed Tapaculo (Scytalopus micropterus)
San Isidro, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Francesco Veronesi     Copyright and usage info


Paramo Tapaculo
Paramo Tapaculo (Scytalopus opacus)
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


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Tacarcuna Tapaculo (Scytalopus panamensis) Near Threatened
   



Perija Tapaculo
Perija Tapaculo (Scytalopus perijanus) Near Threatened
Colombia  
   
Photograph by Andres Cuervo     Copyright and usage info

A newly described species, found in the Perija mountain range.

Magdalena Tapaculo
Magdalena Tapaculo (Scytalopus rodriguezi yariguiorum) Endangered ENDEMIC
ProAves Cerulean Warbler Reserve, San Vicente de Chucuri, Santander, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Santa Marta Tapaculo
Santa Marta Tapaculo (Scytalopus sanctaemartae) Near Threatened ENDEMIC
Santa Marta Sierra Nevada, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Sebastian Ballesteros Caro   © All Rights Reserved.

Found at lower altitudes, around 1500m, than the Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Note white spot on top of head.

Spillmann's Tapaculo
Spillmann's Tapaculo (Scytalopus spillmanni)
ProAves Dusky Starfrontlet Reserve, Urrao, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Note long continuous call compared to the choppy Ash-colored Tapaculo. May have more rufous on flanks than other species. Found in forests from 2500m up to the paramo.

Stiles's Tapaculo
Stiles's Tapaculo (Scytalopus stilesi) ENDEMIC
La Romera, Itagui, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Found around 1200-2400m in a few locations in the western Andes of Colombia, but common in those locations. For me this species sounds a lot like the other Colombian endemic on the other side of the Cauca Valley, the Tatama Tapaculo, and I wonder if they are the same species.
Side view.

Narino Tapaculo
Narino Tapaculo (Scytalopus vicinior)
ProAves Tangaras Reserve, El Carmen de Atrato, Choco, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Narino Tapaculo
Narino Tapaculo (Scytalopus vicinior) Immature
ProAves Tangaras Reserve, El Carmen de Atrato, Choco, Colombia
  Typical coloration for an immature tapaculo.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.



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