Nariño tapaculo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nariño tapaculo
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Rhinocryptidae
Genus:	Scytalopus
Species:	S. vicinior
Binomial name
Scytalopus vicinior Zimmer, 1939
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The Nariño tapaculo (Scytalopus vicinior) is a small, shy bird. It belongs to a group of birds called Rhinocryptidae, which are known as tapaculos. You can find this bird living in the forests of Colombia and Ecuador.

About This Bird's Name

Scientists give every animal a special name. The Nariño tapaculo's scientific name is Scytalopus vicinior. It was first described in 1939 by a scientist named John Todd Zimmer.

At first, some scientists thought it was a type of Tacarcuna tapaculo. But later, experts like Krabbe and Schulenberg studied it more. They found that the Nariño tapaculo was quite different. It had a unique look and a different song. Because of these differences, they decided it was its own special species.

What the Nariño Tapaculo Looks Like

The Nariño tapaculo looks a lot like other tapaculo birds found in the Andes mountains.

Male Nariño Tapaculo

The male bird has a dark gray head. Its back is dark gray or brown. The area near its tail, called the rump, is a cinnamon color with dark bars. Its throat, chest, and belly are a lighter gray. The sides of its body and the area under its tail are yellowish-brown with blackish bars.

Female Nariño Tapaculo

The female Nariño tapaculo looks similar to the male. However, her back is usually a bit browner. Her throat is a lighter gray. Sometimes, her lower belly can be more yellow than the male's.

Where the Nariño Tapaculo Lives

The Nariño tapaculo lives on the western side of the Andes mountains. You can find it in Colombia, in places like the Risaralda and Chocó areas. Its home also stretches south into southwestern Cotopaxi Province in Ecuador.

Preferred Habitat

This bird mostly lives in the lower parts of wet montane forests. These are forests found in mountainous regions. Sometimes, you might also see it near the edges of these forests.

Elevation

The Nariño tapaculo usually lives at elevations from 1,250 to 2,000 m (4,100 to 6,560 ft). This means it lives high up in the mountains! In Ecuador, it can even be found as high as 2,350 m (7,710 ft).

Nariño Tapaculo Behavior

What They Eat

The Nariño tapaculo eats many different kinds of insects. However, scientists don't know much more about its eating habits.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Not a lot is known about how these birds raise their young. Scientists have found birds that were ready to breed in November, December, and April. This suggests they might have babies during these months.

Their Unique Song

The Nariño tapaculo has a very special song. It is a fast series of clear, ringing notes. The song starts with a short stutter. Then, it can continue for 15 to 30 seconds. It sounds like "pididi-ü--ü--ü--ü--ü--ü--ü--ü--ü--ü--ü". You can listen to an example of its song online here.

Conservation Status

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) checks on animals around the world. They have said the Nariño tapaculo is a species of "Least Concern."

This means that even though its home area is not huge, and we don't know exactly how many there are, scientists believe its population is large enough. They don't think it's in danger of disappearing right now.