Bird Guide

Ocellated Tapaculo vs White-crowned Tapaculo

Ocellated Tapaculo (Acropternis orthonyx)

Ocellated Tapaculo

Acropternis orthonyx

Medium90 gForest

This passerine averages 8.3-8.7 in (21–22 cm) in length and between 2.8 and 3.5 oz (80 and 100 gram). The bird is mostly black with large white spots, a brown flank, and a reddish head and throat. A call, apparently given by birds to announce their presence to conspecifics, is described as "loud, emphatic WHEEUW! whistle" which as it seems can be heard from a long distance. It is usually encountered in pairs or alone, hopping through bamboo along the forest floor. Preferring to stay close to the ground, it is more often heard than seen.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Ocellated Tapaculo
Recorded by Juan Carlos Albero · Song · Reserva Hidrográfica, Forestal, y Parque Ecológico Río Blanco, El Desquite - La Navarra, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia · CC0
Photo: joel rosenthal from miami, florida, usa · CC BY 2.0
White-crowned Tapaculo (Scytalopus atratus)

White-crowned Tapaculo

Scytalopus atratus

Small26 gForest

The white-crowned tapaculo is 12 cm (4.7 in) long. Males weigh 24.6 to 32.5 g (0.87 to 1.15 oz) and one female weighed 25.3 g (0.89 oz). The male of the nominate subspecies is mostly blackish above and slightly lighter below. The flanks and vent are reddish brown and have black bars. It has a white patch on the crown of the head. The female is paler than the male and washed with brown above and is more reddish on the flanks. The juvenile is rust colored with heavy barring. The male S. a. nigricans is darker than the nominate and the female is gray underneath. The male S. a. Voice: The songs of different populations of white-crowned tapaculos are highly variable. Some examples include this from near Bogotá, Colombia , this from near La Florida, Department of Amazonas, Peru , and this from Mérida, Venezuela .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the White-crowned Tapaculo
Recorded by Andres Felipe Espinosa · Song · Ibagué, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Ocellated Tapaculo and White-crowned Tapaculo.