Chocó tapaculo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chocó tapaculo |
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Scytalopus
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chocoensis
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The Chocó tapaculo (Scytalopus chocoensis) is a small bird that lives in the forests of South and Central America. It belongs to a bird family called Rhinocryptidae, known for their shy nature and often hidden lives. You can find this bird in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
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About the Chocó Tapaculo
What Makes It Special?
The Chocó tapaculo was once thought to be the same as another bird, the Nariño tapaculo. But in 1997, scientists Niels Krabbe and Thomas Schulenberg studied them closely. They found enough differences to say the Chocó tapaculo is its own unique species.
What Does It Look Like?
This little bird is about 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long. That's roughly the length of a pen! Male Chocó tapaculos weigh between 19 and 22.5 grams (about 0.7 to 0.8 ounces). Females are a bit lighter, weighing 17 to 20.1 grams (about 0.6 to 0.7 ounces).
Males have dark gray feathers on their back and shoulders. Their lower back is gray with a hint of brown. Their rump, which is the area above the tail, is dark brown with dark stripes. Below, their feathers are lighter gray, turning reddish-brown with dark stripes on their lower belly.
Female Chocó tapaculos look similar to males. However, the brownish color on their back can also extend to their head. Their throat is a lighter gray than their chest. Sometimes, their lower belly has a yellowish tint. Young Chocó tapaculos are mostly dull brown on top, except for a dark brown rump. Their underside often has stripes.
Where Does It Live?
The Chocó tapaculo lives in two main areas. One is a small part of eastern Panama. The other is a narrow strip of land from western Colombia down into northwestern Ecuador. These birds prefer to live in dense, humid primary forest. This means forests that have not been cut down or heavily disturbed by humans. They can also be found at the edges of these forests.
In Panama, they live at elevations from about 1,340 to 1,465 meters (4,400 to 4,800 feet) above sea level. In Colombia and Ecuador, they live at lower elevations, from 250 to 1,250 meters (820 to 4,100 feet).
How It Behaves
What Does It Eat?
Scientists don't know a lot about what the Chocó tapaculo eats. But they do know that it searches for insects on the ground. It likely hops around in the dense undergrowth, looking for tasty bugs.
How Does It Raise Its Young?
We know a little about their breeding habits. A female bird ready to lay eggs was found in February. Nests with young birds were discovered in August. One nest was described as a ball made of rootlets and moss. It was about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) wide and hidden in fallen leaves on the forest floor. Both parent birds were seen feeding the young birds in the nest.
What Does It Sound Like?
The Chocó tapaculo has a special song. It's a very clear and echoing series of notes that can last from 5 to 60 seconds! The first few notes are often a bit lower in pitch and sung faster. You can listen to its song here: Chocó tapaculo song. Its call is a series of short, sharp notes: Chocó tapaculo call.
Is It Endangered?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the Chocó tapaculo. They have classified it as a species of "Least Concern." This means that even though its living area is somewhat small, and we don't know the exact number of birds, scientists believe there are enough of them for now. They are not currently at high risk of disappearing.
