Scaled Antpitta
Grallaria guatimalensis
The Scaled Antpitta (Grallaria guatimalensis) is a rare antpitta found in 16 countries, weighing about 94 g. The scaled antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae.
About the Scaled Antpitta
The scaled antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela It has occurred as a vagrant on Trinidad. There is also a single record in Belize.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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 scaled antpitta is 15 to 19 cm (5.9 to 7.5 in) long and weighs 70 to 98 g (2.5 to 3.5 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies G. g. guatimalensis have a pale olive brownish forecrown with fine black scaling and a gray crown and nape. They have whitish or buffy lores, olive brown ear coverts with thin streaks, and blue-gray skin around their eye. Voice: The song of most subspecies of scaled antpitta is "a rapid series of quavering, hollow notes lasting 2-7 seconds, slowly increasing in volume and pitch and then quickly becoming quieter at the end: cau, cau, cau-cau-caucaucaucau, cau". That of subspecies G. g.
What the Scaled Antpitta sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Scaled Antpitta can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Scaled Antpitta?
- Grallaria antpittas are a "wonderful group of plump and round antbirds whose feathers are often fluffed up...they have stout bills very short tails". Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Scaled Antpitta?
- The Scaled Antpitta is a medium sized bird weighing about 94 g.
- Where can you see a Scaled Antpitta?
- The Scaled Antpitta occurs in 16 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru and Guatemala.
- What does a Scaled Antpitta sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Scaled Antpitta on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Scaled Antpitta?
- The Scaled Antpitta is most easily confused with the Equatorial Antpitta, the Chestnut-naped Antpitta and the Yellow-breasted Antpitta.
- Is the Scaled Antpitta endangered?
- The Scaled Antpitta is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Scaled Antpitta for real
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