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Zimmer's tapaculo facts for kids

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Zimmer's tapaculo
Scytalopus zimmeri - Zimmer's Tapaculo 2.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Rhinocryptidae
Genus: Scytalopus
Species:
S. zimmeri
Binomial name
Scytalopus zimmeri
Bond & Meyer de Schauensee, 1940
Scytalopus zimmeri map.svg
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The Zimmer's tapaculo (Scytalopus zimmeri) is a small bird that belongs to a family called Rhinocryptidae. You can find this bird in parts of Bolivia and Argentina.

About Its Name and Family

This bird is named after an American bird expert, John Todd Zimmer. Sometimes, people thought the Zimmer's tapaculo was just a type of Magellanic tapaculo. It is also closely related to the white-browed tapaculo.

What Zimmer's Tapaculo Looks Like

This bird is about 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long. Male birds usually weigh between 17.6 to 19.9 g (0.62 to 0.70 oz). One female bird was found to weigh 15.9 g (0.56 oz).

Adult Birds

Adult Zimmer's tapaculos have a bright white stripe above their eyes, which is called a supercilium. Their throat and the top part of their chest are also white. The rest of their head, back, and wings are gray. Their back might have a brownish color. The lower part of their chest and their belly are gray too. The sides of their body and the area under their tail are olive-brown with dark stripes.

Young Birds

Young Zimmer's tapaculos look a bit different. The stripe above their eyes is a light yellowish-brown. Their upper body is olive-brown with dark stripes. Their chest and upper belly are gray. The sides of their body and lower belly are yellowish-brown with dark stripes.

Where Zimmer's Tapaculo Lives

You can find the Zimmer's tapaculo in southern Bolivia, in areas like Chuquisaca and Tarija. They also live in Argentina, in Jujuy and Salta provinces. These birds live on the slopes of the Andes mountains. They can be found at heights from 1,700 to 3,200 m (5,600 to 10,500 ft) above sea level.

Their Home

Zimmer's tapaculos live in different types of forests. They like woodlands with trees like Alnus, Podocarpus, and Polylepis. They often hang out in shady places like ravines. They also live on open, wet, rocky slopes that have tall grass and bushes.

How Zimmer's Tapaculo Behaves

Feeding Habits

This bird looks for food on or close to the ground. It often stays hidden among tree roots, rocks, and ferns. We don't know a lot about what they eat, but it seems they like seeds.

Reproduction and Nests

People have seen both parent birds taking care of their babies in October. The nest was found built inside a crack in a bank made of earth and stones.

Bird Calls and Songs

The song of the Zimmer's tapaculo is a series of three to five rough-sounding notes. They repeat these notes often for many minutes [1]. Their call is described as one or two "quick" notes repeated over and over [2].

How Many Zimmer's Tapaculos Are There?

The IUCN (a group that checks on animals) says that the Zimmer's tapaculo is of "Least Concern." This means they are not worried about it becoming endangered right now. Even though they live in a small area and we don't know exactly how many there are, the birds are probably safe. This is because the land is very steep, and the birds can handle some changes to their home.

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Zimmer's tapaculo Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.