Loja Tapaculo

Scytalopus androstictus

Tapaculos · Passeriformes · Legendary

The Loja Tapaculo (Scytalopus androstictus) is a legendary tapaculo found in 2 countries. The Loja tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae that the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) accepted as a new species in July 2020.

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About the Loja Tapaculo

The Loja tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae that the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) accepted as a new species in July 2020. It had been classified as a subspecies of paramo tapaculo. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Loja tapaculo 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. 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.

What the Loja Tapaculo sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Loja Tapaculo?
The Loja tapaculo is approximately 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
Where can you see a Loja Tapaculo?
The Loja Tapaculo occurs in 2 countries, including Ecuador and Peru.
What does a Loja Tapaculo sound like?
You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Loja Tapaculo on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Loja Tapaculo?
The Loja Tapaculo is most easily confused with the Large-footed Tapaculo, the Paramillo Tapaculo and the Marsh Tapaculo.

Learn the Loja Tapaculo for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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