Fr: Mérulaxe de Vilcabamba
Ang: Vilcabamba Tapaculo
All: Vilcabambatapaculo
Esp: Churrín de Vilcabamba
Ita: Tapaculo di Vilcabamba
Nd: Cuzcotapaculo
Sd: vilcabambatapakul
Photographer:
William Price
PBase-tereksandpiper & Flickr William Price
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol 8 By Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliott-David Christie - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334504
BIRDS OF SOUTH AMERICA – Passerines - by Robert S. Ridgely and Guy Tudor – HELM Field Guides – ISBN: 9781408113424
BIRDS OF PERU by Thomas S. Schulenberg, Douglas F. Stotz, Daniel F. Lane, John P. O’Neill, Theodore A. Parker III – Princeton University Press 2007 – ISBN: 978-0-691-13023-1
Fat birder - Rhinocryptidae – Tapaculos
CREAGUS@Monterey Bay (Don Roberson)
Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Vilcabamba Tapaculo
Scytalopus urubambae
Passeriformes Order – Rhinocryptidae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo is endemic to Perú where it occurs in the upper Urubamba Valley in S Perú. It frequents humid montane forests and scrub at high elevations, between 3,500 and 4,200 metres.
It is a terrestrial species, feeding on insects, earthworms, seeds and soft plant material. It lives close to the ground within the thick vegetation.
The breeding behaviour is unknown, but it is probably fairly similar to that of other Scytalopus species. The nest is often in a covered location such as burrow, tree hole or domed structure. The species is thought to be monogamous.
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo was formerly a subspecies of the Magellanic Tapaculo, but due to differences in their vocalizations, it was elevated to species rank in 1997.
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo has restricted range, but the population is suspected to be stable, probably due to its habitat at high elevations. The species is not currently globally threatened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 10-12 cm
Weight: (one male): 13 g
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo resembles to numerous Scytalopus species, but it differs slightly in the warmer ochraceous-brown colour of the rear part of the body.
The adult male has dark grey upperparts, but rump and uppertail-coverts are mostly rufous-brown with indistinct dusky barring. The short tail is grey and often held erect. The upperwing is slightly darker, especially the flight-feathers.
The underparts are mid-grey on the breast, merging to pale grey on the belly. Flanks and undertail-coverts are cinnamon-rufous with very indistinct dark barring.
The head is grey.
The pointed bill is blackish or black.
The eyes are dark brown.
Legs and feet are pinkish-brown to brownish-flesh.
The female resembles male but she has paler grey plumage, with a brown wash on the rear neck. The tail is brown with indistinct dark bars. The upperwing is more strongly marked with terminal cinnamon spots, whereas the inner flight-feathers show dark subterminal spots.
On the underparts, the flanks are brighter rufous but the barring is absent.
The juvenile has brown upperparts with the back darker than the rump.
Breast and belly are olivaceous-buff with distinct dusky bars, while flanks and undertail-coverts are yellowish-buff.
RANGE:
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo occurs only in the upper Urubamba Valley in the Department of Cuzco in southern Perú.
HABITAT:
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo frequents humid montane and dwarf forests, usually in mossy areas with boulders, at high elevation, between 3,500 and 4,200 metres.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The vocalizations of the Vilcabamba Tapaculo differ from the calls and songs of the Magellanic Tapaculo. This difference led to recognition as a full species in 1997.
The call of the Vilcabamba Tapaculo is described as a short, rising and falling series of 5-8 notes “kikikikikikiki”. This call can be used as alarm call, and is shared by many species of genus Scytalopus, although they differ in pitch.
The song is a series of rising, churred phrases “chree-chree-chree-chree” and includes 2-3 phrases per second.
We can also hear a repeated, raspy “chit-chit” and a “churr” uttered for up to 60 seconds or more. The latter may sometimes end in a rapid, rising series of single notes, and is used in territorial disputes, as well as in courtship displays.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The diet of the Vilcabamba Tapaculo is currently unknown, but it is probably fairly similar to that of other Scytalopus species. The diet usually includes tiny insects, earth worms and small arthropods, although seeds, berries and soft plant material can be occasionally consumed.
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo gleans prey from moss, leaf litter, earth and rotting vegetation. It is a terrestrial species and feeds by moving along quickly on the ground and in the undergrowth. It is very “mouse-like” while foraging under roots or rocks, or through tussocks of grass.
The breeding biology is also poorly known. It may be suggested that it resembles that of the Magellanic Tapaculo, of which the present species was formerly a subspecies.
The tapaculos often build the nest in tree hole or bark crevice, in burrow or among roots, or sometimes build a domed structure. The female usually lays 2-3 eggs. They are strongly territorial and presumably monogamous.
The Scytalopus species are often restless and fast-moving birds, but they also may remain motionless for several minutes in one spot.
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo is resident and endemic breeder within its restricted range.
These birds are poor fliers and become often isolated in small populations at high elevation.
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo has short, rounded wings and is usually very reluctant to cross open areas or to fly. It flies with difficulty and only over short distances. If alarmed, it escapes by running and remaining under cover.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
Information is needed concerning the nesting behaviour of the Vilcabamba Tapaculo.
In this genus, the nest is often in covered location such as a hole in tree or bark, a burrow or a domed structure. Several observations describe a soft lining inside the nests, including grass, moss, root and plant fibres.
The clutch usually consists of 2-3 eggs. The incubation may last from 14 to 17 days, depending on the species. Both parents apparently feed the chicks, and usually share most of the nesting duties.
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo has restricted range but its habitat located at high elevation protects the species from human activities and disturbances.
The population is believed to be stable and roughly evaluated at 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. The species is described as fairly common to common.
The Vilcabamba Tapaculo is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
