- Scytalopus intermedius
Identification
11 cm (4¼ in)
Male
- Blackish-grey overall plumage; fresh feathers seems to have slightly paler edges which in some light can give an impression of a paler wash.
- Dark brown iris
- Blackish bill
Female
- Dark grey overall plumage, but paler than male
- Olive-brown on lower flanks, abdomen, and undertail-coverts; some also with an olive-brown wash on wings and tail
- Central belly may have dusky markings, and hints of this may also be found on tail and wings
Juveniles likely have barring of brown and black.
Similar species
Tschudi's Tapaculo, Trilling Tapaculo and Neblina Tapaculo occur in the same or adjacent areas.
Distribution
South America: Central Andes of northern Peru (southern Amazonas and San Martin south of the Marañón gap)
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Formerly included as a subspecies in Blackish Tapaculo.
Habitat
Dense undergrowth in swampy, humid or semihumid forest. Found between 2,560 - 3,600 m asl.
Behaviour
Very difficult to observe as it hides in vegetation. Presumably, insects and similar invertebrates are an important source of food.
Vocalisation
Main song a series of whoup notes given at 5-6 notes per second. When given as a long series the pitch stays constant, but sometimes given as a short series where the pitch rises and falls.
A second sound is a series of 5 notes given within one second where the pitch is rising up to third note and thereafter constant (this might be the alarm call).
A third sound is a trill of less than 30 notes given within less than 2 seconds, during which time the pitch both rise and fall.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Kirwan, G. M., N. Krabbe, and T. S. Schulenberg (2021). Utcubamba Tapaculo (Scytalopus intermedius), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (G. M. Kirwan, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blatap2.01
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Utcubamba Tapaculo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Utcubamba_Tapaculo
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
