Bolivian Tapaculo Scytalopus bolivianus Scientific name definitions

The distribution of Bolivian Tapaculo is centered on the humid lower slopes of the Andes in northern and central Bolivia, although it occurs north to southern Peru. Bolivian Tapaculo is similar to its apparent close relative, White-crowned Tapaculo (Scytalopus atratus), both of which are dark gray tapaculos with a variably sized white spot on the crown; but Bolivian is slightly smaller in size, and is even blacker in color. Bolivian Tapaculo is heard far more often than it is seen; the song basically is a single note, repeated seemingly without end in a loud, long, rapid series. Typical of other Andean forest tapaculos, Bolivian Tapaculo forages solitarily or in pairs close to ground, where it feeds primarily on small invertebrates; but otherwise its biology is essentially unknown.

12 cm; male 17–22 g, 1 female 19·5 g. A medium-sized, relatively short-tailed, blackish tapaculo. Male has white spot on crown variable in extent, from just a few white feathers (or none at all) to covering entire central crown; rest of plumage very dark grey, rump and wings sometimes with dark dusky brown wash, throat and upper breast slightly paler, flanks rufescent brown (paler towards crissum) and closely barred black; iris dark brown; bill black; tarsus dark brown or grey-brown. Female is paler, crown and back dark grey washed with brown, rump and wings brown, inner remiges tipped buff, tail brown, throat and breast medium grey, feathers of lower breast tipped buff, belly and flanks dark buffy brown or medium rufescent brown, closely barred black. Juvenile similar to female.

SE Peru (from N Puno, and possibly Ayacucho) SE to S Bolivia (Chuquisaca).

Dense undergrowth of humid and semi-deciduous, relatively broadleaf forest at 1000–2300 m, locally to 2850 m. Replaced at higher elevations by S. parvirostris in most of range; not known to meet S. zimmeri in S.

Probably sedentary.

No information.

Song 6–15 seconds long, a trill at c. 3 kHz (first overtone), sometimes at even pitch, but usually slightly accelerating at first, then decelerating from 10–14 to 4–7 notes per second. Alarm a 4-note “kekekeke” at 3 kHz; complex high-pitched “brzk”, sometimes in descending series, thought to be given by female.

No information.

Not globally threatened. Generally uncommon; locally common, e.g. in Río Grande Masicuri Closed Forest Reserve in S Santa Cruz. Occurs in Carrasco and Amboró National Parks.