The bicolored antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests of Colombia and northern Ecuador, typically in areas with dense understory and abundant moss. It prefers steep ravines, forested gullies, and bamboo (Chusquea) thickets where it can remain concealed. The species mainly occupies primary forest but will use mature secondary growth if the understory is intact. It avoids heavily degraded habitats and open edges.
Altitude Range
1600–2600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-dwelling antpitta of the northern Andes, it is far more often heard than seen. It favors damp, mossy cloud forests where it hops quietly along the leaf litter with an upright posture. Its clear, whistled song carries through ravines at dawn and dusk, helping birders locate this elusive species. Habitat loss has made encounters increasingly scarce in parts of its range.
Temperament
skulking and shy
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories within dense forest. Nests low above the ground or on earthen banks, often a mossy cup concealed in thick vegetation. Both adults are thought to participate in incubation and chick-rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a clear, mellow, whistled series, often a single pure note repeated at intervals or a simple two-note phrase. Song carries well through humid forest at dawn and dusk; calls include soft, plaintive whistles.
Plumage
Strikingly two-toned with slate-gray head, throat, and underparts contrasting with rich rufous-brown mantle, wings, and back; plumage appears smooth and uniform without heavy streaking.
Diet
Feeds primarily on arthropods such as beetles, ants, and other insects, gleaned from leaf litter and low vegetation. Also takes earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates, especially after rains. It forages by hopping and pausing, tilting its head to listen before picking prey from the forest floor.
Preferred Environment
Forages on shaded, damp forest floors with deep leaf litter and tangled understory. Frequently uses ravines, root tangles, and bamboo thickets for cover while searching for prey.
