Jalca tapaculo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jalca tapaculo |
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Scytalopus
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frankeae
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The jalca tapaculo (Scytalopus frankeae) is a small bird that lives only in Peru. It belongs to a bird family called Rhinocryptidae, which are often called "tapaculos."
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About the Jalca Tapaculo
Scientists officially described the jalca tapaculo as a new species in 2020. Several important bird groups, like the American Ornithological Society, agreed that it was a unique species.
The name "jalca" comes from a local Peruvian word. It describes the type of grassy, shrubby place where this bird likes to live. The second part of its scientific name, frankeae, honors Dr. Irma Franke. She is a Peruvian scientist who has helped a lot with studying birds in Peru. She was also part of the team that first found this bird in 1985.
What It Looks Like
Like other tapaculos, the jalca tapaculo is a small, round bird with dull colors. It is about 10 to 11 centimeters (4 to 4.3 inches) long. Males usually weigh around 17 grams (0.6 ounces), and females are slightly lighter at about 16 grams (0.56 ounces).
Male jalca tapaculos have a dark gray head and face. They often have a silvery-white stripe above their eye. Their back and neck are dark gray with a reddish-brown tint. The lower back and rump are cinnamon brown with dark bars. Their tail feathers can be reddish-brown or banded with gray and cinnamon. Their wings are mostly brown with cinnamon and black marks. The throat and belly are light gray, while the chest is a darker gray. The lower sides and vent area are brownish with black marks.
Female jalca tapaculos look similar to males but are generally more brown. Their colors can range from cinnamon brown to olive brown.
Where It Lives and Its Home
The jalca tapaculo lives only in east-central Peru. It has been found in two main areas, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) apart. In the north, it lives in the Huánuco and Pasco regions. In the south, it is found in the department of Junín. Its northern boundary is the Huallaga River, and its southern boundary is the Mantaro River.
This bird mostly lives in areas with thick bunchgrass and scattered shrubs, which Peruvians call "jalca." It prefers ravines and steep, rocky slopes where sheep and cattle don't graze. You can also find it at the edge of forests, including Polylepis forests and evergreen forests near rivers. It lives at high elevations, between 3,400 and 4,200 meters (11,150 and 13,780 feet) above sea level.
Behavior
Feeding Habits
The jalca tapaculo looks for food on the ground. It moves among moss, rocks, and clumps of grass. It also hops along branches close to the ground. Scientists don't know much about its exact diet, but they have seen it eating insects.
Reproduction
Not much is known about how the jalca tapaculo reproduces. Based on observations of adult birds that were ready to breed, their breeding season seems to be from July to September.
Vocalization
The song of the jalca tapaculo is a "long series of regularly repeated reverberating churrs." These songs can last for several minutes. There are slight differences in the songs of the birds living in the northern and southern parts of their range. They also have two simple calls.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has not yet officially assessed the jalca tapaculo. This means it doesn't have a specific conservation status like "Endangered" or "Least Concern" yet.
The bird lives in a limited area, but there might be more suitable places nearby that haven't been explored. It seems to be common in one specific location called Millpo in Huánuco. However, it is less common in other northern areas because of heavy grazing by animals. The southern part of its range is larger and has fewer people, so the bird is more common there. The scientists who discovered the bird believe it would likely be classified as "Least Concern," meaning it is not currently at high risk.
Images for kids
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A Jalca Tapaculo bird.
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Map showing where the Jalca Tapaculo lives in Peru.
See also
In Spanish: Churrín de jalca para niños
