The Ancash tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the central Peruvian Andes, primarily in and around the Ancash region, including slopes and valleys of the Cordillera Blanca and adjacent ranges. It inhabits dense montane scrub, the understory and edges of Polylepis–Gynoxys woodlands, and rocky ravines with bunchgrasses. Birds keep close to the ground, weaving through root tangles, mossy boulders, and stone walls. It may also use brushy field margins and hedgerows near highland agriculture when cover is sufficient.
Altitude Range
3000–4500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small, ground-dwelling tapaculo is endemic to the high Andes of central Peru, especially the Ancash region. Like many Scytalopus, it is notoriously hard to see but readily detected by its distinctive, repetitive song. It favors dense, shrubby and rocky habitats near Polylepis woodlands, a specialized and threatened ecosystem. Identification relies heavily on voice because its plumage is very similar to related species.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats over very short distances
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories in dense cover. Nests are often placed in burrows or cavities in earthen banks or among roots, lined with fine plant material. Breeding likely coincides with the local wet season when food is most abundant.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A long series of sharp, evenly spaced notes that may accelerate or slightly increase in volume, typical of Scytalopus. Calls include thin, high-pitched chips and short trills given from concealed perches.
Plumage
Compact, short-tailed bird with mostly slaty to dark gray plumage; back and underparts are plain gray with warmer brown to rufescent flanks and undertail coverts that are finely barred. Feathers appear soft and dense, aiding its skulking lifestyle. Juveniles show more brownish tones overall.
Diet
Primarily takes small arthropods such as insects and their larvae, spiders, and other invertebrates. It gleans and probes among leaf litter, moss, and crevices between rocks. Foraging is methodical and close to the ground, with brief dashes between cover. Occasionally may take tiny seeds or berries but these are minor in the diet.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense montane shrubs, bunchgrass clumps, and mossy ravines where cover is continuous. Often works along stone walls, root tangles, and fallen branches at the edges of Polylepis woodlands.
