Bird Guide

Paramo Tapaculo vs Rusty-belted Tapaculo

Paramo Tapaculo (Scytalopus opacus)

Paramo Tapaculo

Scytalopus opacus

Small16 gForest

The Paramo tapaculo resembles other Scytalopus tapaculos. It is approximately 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long. Males weigh 13.9 to 17.9 g (0.49 to 0.63 oz) and females 13.4 to 16 g (0.47 to 0.56 oz). 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. 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Guy Babineau · CC BY 4.0
Rusty-belted Tapaculo (Liosceles thoracicus)

Rusty-belted Tapaculo

Liosceles thoracicus

Small40 gForest

The rusty-belted tapaculo is 19.5 cm (7.7 in) long and weighs 39 to 42 g (1.4 to 1.5 oz). Its plumage is unlike that of any other tapaculo. The nominate subspecies has a grayish brown head with a white supercilium and a reddish brown back, wings, and rump. The throat is white with black streaks at the side, most of the breast is white, and the flanks and vent are barred with black, brown, and white. The upper breast has a yellow to orange brown band the gives the species its common name. Subspecies L. t. erithacus is browner on the head and the breast band is larger and darker. Subspecies L.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rusty-belted Tapaculo
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Sucumbíos: 'La Selva Jungle Lodge', n bank Río Napo, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Paramo Tapaculo and Rusty-belted Tapaculo.