Loja tapaculo

Scytalopus androstictus

The Loja tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae that the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society accepted as a new species in July 2020. It had been classified as a subspecies of paramo tapaculo. It is found in the Andes of southern Ecuador (particularly Loja province, as the name indicates), reaching over the border into far northern Peru.
Loja tapaculo (Scytalopus androstictus) San Felipe, Cajamarca, Peru. 28 Dec, 2022 Geotagged,Loja tapaculo,Peru,Scytalopus androstictus,Summer

Appearance

The Loja tapaculo is approximately 10.5 cm long. Males weigh 13.9 to 17.9 g and females 13.4 to 16 g. Males are very dark gray above and medium to dark gray on most of the underside. The flanks and vent area are tawny to dark brown with darker barring. Most males also have white primary coverts that show as a patch when the wing is folded. The female is brown above and pale to medium gray on most of the underside. Like the male it has brownish flanks and vent area. The juveniles are highly variable, but generally have shades of brown and barring above and shades of gray and buff below with or without barring.

Distribution

The Loja tapaculo has a very limited range on the east slope of the Andes in Zamora-Chinchipe Province of Ecuador and the northern part of Peru's Department of Cajamarca.

Status

The IUCN has not assessed the Loja tapaculo.

Habitat

It generally inhabits shrub and scrublands at and above treeline but can also be found in "Polylepis" woodland and high elevation humid forest. Its elevation range is typically between 2,600 and 3,300 m. It is believed to be sedentary.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyRhinocryptidae
GenusScytalopus
SpeciesS. androstictus
Photographed in
Peru