About the Muisca Antpitta
The Muisca antpitta is a bird in the family Grallariidae. The species was first described by Frédéric de Lafresnaye in 1843. It was formerly called the rufous antpitta, which in 2020 was found to be a species complex composed of as many as 15 species, some of which were newly described. It is found in the Andes of northern Colombia and western Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Grallaria antpittas are a "wonderful group of plump and round antbirds whose feathers are often fluffed up...they have stout bills very short tails". The Muisca antpitta is about 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long; four individuals weighed 32 to 36 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have rufous brown upperparts that are a slightly brighter rufous on their face, throat, and breast. Their underparts are mostly rufous brown with dark grayish rufous flanks, a paler rufous central belly, and white or buffy white lower belly and vent. Voice: The Muisca antpitta's long song is "a drawn out series of clear whistles with a slightly clipped sound...lasting a total of ~6–11 seconds" and accelerates at the end. It also has a short song, "a thin, clear whistle lasting ~0.75 s...followed by a pause and then a lower, fast liquid trill of about the same length".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Muisca Antpitta sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Bolivia.
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Undulated AntpittaGrallaria squamigeraGrallaria antpittas are a "wonderful group of plump and round antbirds whose feathers are often fluffed up...they have stout bills, very short tails, and very long bluish gray legs".
Bicolored AntpittaGrallaria rufocinereaGrallaria antpittas are a "wonderful group of plump and round antbirds whose feathers are often fluffed up...they have stout bills very short tails".
Plain-backed AntpittaGrallaria haplonotaGrallaria antpittas are a "wonderful group of plump and round antbirds whose feathers are often fluffed up...they have stout bills very short tails".
Learn the Muisca Antpitta for real
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