Slaty bristlefront

Merulaxis ater

Photo by Don Robertson (Creagrus)

Common name:
slaty bristlefront (en); entufado (pt); mérulaxe noir (fr); macuquiño negro (es); südlicher stirnhaubentapaculo (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhinocryptidae

Range:
This species is endemic to south-eastern Brazil, being found along the coast from south-eastern Bahia to northern Santa Catarina.

Size:
These birds are 17-18,5 cm long and weigh 33-37 g.

Habitat:
The slaty bristlefront is mostly found in moist tropical forests, also using mature secondary forests. They prefer areas with sense undergrowth and occur at altitudes of 800-1.800 m.

Diet:
They usually forage in pair, taking insects and other small invertebrates.

Breeding:
Slaty bristlefronts possibly breed in July-February. They nest in holes in earth banks and are believed to be single-brooded, but there is no other information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range but is described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be declining at a moderate rate, owing to continuing habitat loss and degradation through agricultural conversion and deforestation for mining, urbanization and associated road-building.

White-browed tapaculo

Scytalopus superciliaris

Photo by Freddy Burgos (Flickr)

Common name:
white-browed tapaculo (en); tapaculo-de-sobrolho-branco (pt); mérulaxe bridé (fr); churrín cejiblanco (es); weißbrauentapaculo (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhinocryptidae

Range:
This species is found in the Andean slopes of north-western Argentina, north of La Rioja, and marginally across the border into southern Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 16,5-19 g.

Habitat:
The white-browed tapaculo is mountain rainforests, namely alder Alder jorullensis forests, at altitudes of 1.500-3.350 m.

Diet:
They feed on small arthropods.

Breeding:
White-browed tapaculos breed in October-December. They nest in a tunnel excavated among the roots of a scrub or tree, at the end of which there is a nest chamber with a cup made of roots, grasses and forbs, and lined with finer strands and feathers. The female lays 2 white eggs. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Planalto tapaculo

Scytalopus pachecoi

Photo by Adrian Rupp (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
planalto tapaculo (en); tapaculo-ferreirinho (pt); mérulaxe de Pacheco (fr); churrín del planalto (es); Pachecotapaculo (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhynocryptidae

Range:
This species is found in three small areas in southern Brazil and marginally into northern Argentina. These areas are Serra do Sudeste in Rio Grande do Sul, Missiones in Argentina, and the highests parts of the plateau in north-eastern Rio Grande do Sul and south-eastern Santa Catarina.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long and weigh 13-17 g.

Habitat:
The planalto tapaculo is mostly found along the edges of moist tropical rainforests, especially along small rivers and streams. They also use bamboo stands and second growths. This species is present from sea level up to an altitude of 400 m.

Diet:
They feed on small arthropods.

Breeding:
There is no available information regarding the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large but fragmented breeding range. The global population size has not been quantified, but it is described as locally common. The planalto tapaculo is thought to be experiencing habitat loss and is thus suspected to be in decline, but their ability to adapt to secondary habitats suggests they are not threatened at present.

Black-throated huet-huet

Pteroptochos tarnii

Photo by Jose Cañas (Flickr)

Common name:
black-throated huet-huet (en); huet-huet-de-garganta-preta (pt); tourco huet-huet (fr); hued-hued del sur (es); schwarzkehl-bürzelstelzer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhinocryptidae

Range:
This species is found in Chile, from the Bío-Bío river down to Magallanes, and also in Andean slopes of western Argentina down to Patagonia.

Size:
These birds are 24-25 cm long and weigh 122-145 g.

Habitat:
The black-throated huet-huet is mostly found in moist temperate forests, particularly dense Notofagus dominated forests, but also in secondary forests and forest edges, scrublands, plantations, pastures and arable land. It is found from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:
They feed mostly on small insects and other invertebrates, but also some berries and seeds.

Breeding:
Black-throated huet-huets breed in September-February. The nest is an open cup made of soft grasses, which can be placed at the end of a burrow dug into a bank, under the roots of a fallen tree, or occasionally high up in a hollow tree. There the female lays 2 eggs which are incubated for 22 days. The chicks fledge 21 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population trend for this species cannot be determined based on the available information.

Puna tapaculo

Scytalopus simonsi

Photo by Jean-Philippe Paris (Worldwide Ornithological Travels)

Common name:
Puna tapaculo (en); tapaculo-de-Simons (pt); mérulaxe de Simons (fr); churrín de la Puna (es); Punatapaculo (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhinocryptidae

Range:
This South American species is found in the eastern slopes of the Andes, from the Vilcanota mountains, Cuzco, Peru, south to Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 10-12 cm long and weigh 15-18 g.

Habitat:
Puna tapaculos are found in elfin forests near the treeline, and in stunted trees and scrubs in tussock grass above the treeline. Also in Polylepis woodlands. They occur at altitudes of 2.900-4.300 m.

Diet:
They mainly eat insects, but also grass seeds.

Breeding:
They nest in a cup made of dry grasses, placed at the end of a burrow near the top of a steep bank. There the female lays 2 white eggs, which are incubated for about 16 days. The chicks fledge 15-20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status -  LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range, but is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Chucao tapaculo

Scelorchilus rubecula

Photo by Arthur Grosset (Arthur Grosset's Birds)

Common name:
chucao tapaculo (en); tapaculo-de-peito-ruivo (pt); tourco rougegorge (fr); chucao (es); rotkehltapaculo (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhinocryptidae


Range:
This South American species is found in central and southern Chile and across the border into neighbouring regions of Argentina.


Size:
These birds are 16-18 cm long and weigh 35-43 g.


Habitat:
The chucao tapaculo is found in temperate forests from sea level up to an altitude f 1.500 m.


Diet:
They are omnivorous, eating invertebrates, fruits and seeds. They are known to eat various insects, including Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Psocoptera and Anoplura, spiders, mites, and occasionally also snails, isopods and chilopods, as well as the fruits and seeds of various herbs and grasses.


Breeding:
Chucao tapaculos breed in September-February. The nest is placed in a cavity in a live tree or stump, or within the leaves of epiphytes, up to 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-3 white eggs which are incubated for 23 days. The chicks fledge 21 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population trend for this species cannot be determined based on the available information, but the chucao tapaculo is not considered threatened at present.

Magellanic tapaculo

Scytalopus magellanicus

Photo by Jose Cañas (Flickriver)

Common name:
Magellanic tapaculo (en); tapaculo-de-Magalhães (pt); mérulaxe des Andes (fr); churrín del sur (es); Magellantapaculo (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Rhinocryptidae


Range:
This South American species is found from central Chile and western Argentina, south to Tierra del Fuego.


Size:
These birds are 10-12 cm long and weigh 11-15 g.


Habitat:
Magellanic tapaculos are found in densely vegetated areas, including moist forests, temperate forests, dry grasslands and scrublands, often near water and along rivers and streams. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.500 m.


Diet:
These birds are insectivorous, taking various small insects that they find on or near the ground.


Breeding:
The Magellanic tapaculo breeds in September-February. They build a domed nest made of moss, lichens and root fibres, that is placed in an tunnel excavated into sandy bank or wall. There the female lays 2-3 white eggs which are incubated for 19 days. The chicks fledge 11 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 2-3 broods per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as generally common to fairly common. There is no information regarding population trends.

Crested gallito

Rhinocrypta lanceolata

Photo by Aline Wolfer (Oiseaux d'Argentine)

Common name:

crested gallito (en); tapáculo-de-crista (pt); tourco huppé (fr); gallito copetón (es); schopfbürzelstelzer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Rhinocryptidae

Range:

This species is found in south-eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay and in Argentina down to Rio Negro.

Size:

The crested gallito is 21 cm long and weighs 52-64 g.

Habitat:

These birds are found in moist savannas and lowland dry scrublands and thorny woodlands. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:

Crested gallitos feed only on the ground, mainly eating insects and spiders. They may also eat berries when in season.

Breeding:

These birds are monogamous and may form permanent pair bonds. They build a globular nest in a bush, near the groud, using root fibers, grass, moss, and a few small twigs. There the female lays 2 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 16-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a large breeding range, but is described as uncommon. Thes population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Collared crescent-chest

Melanopareia torquata

Photo by Hugo Viana (Flickr)

Common name:

collared crescent-chest (en); tapaculo-de-colarinho (pt); cordon-noir à col roux (fr); pecholuna brasileño (es); rotnacken-bandvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Rhinocryptidae

Range:

These birds are mostly found in inland central Brazil, in Pará, Piauí, Goiás, Bahía, Minas Gerais, São Paulo e Mato Grosso do Sul. They are also found in northern Paraguay and eastern Bolivia.

Size:

The collared crescent-chest is 14,5 cm long.

Habitat:

They are mostly found in cerrado habitat, the dry savannas of South America, in areas with dry grasslands and scattered bushes.

Diet:

These birds are known to be insectivorous but their diet is yet to be described in detail.

Breeding:

They build a globular nest with a side entrance, often on a tussock o grass. The nest is woven with dry grasses and the dry leaves of trees and bushes. The female lays 2 greenish-blue eggs, which are incubated for 15-18 days by both parents. The chicks stay in the nest for 12-14 days after hatching, being cared for by both male and female.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and described as fairly common, but patchily distributed. It is not considered threatened at present.