The crescent-faced 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 cloud forests of southern Colombia and northern Ecuador, favoring dense understory and moss-laden thickets. It is closely associated with Chusquea bamboo, elfin forest edges, and steep ravines with heavy leaf litter. Birds keep to shaded, damp microhabitats where prey is abundant and cover is high. It is typically local and patchy, with presence tied to intact forest structure.
Altitude Range
2200–3400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny, elusive antpitta of the Northern Andes, the crescent-faced antpitta is named for the striking white crescents on its face. It stays low in dense, mossy undergrowth and Chusquea bamboo, where it hops quietly along the forest floor. More often heard than seen, its thin, whistled notes carry through cloud forests. Habitat loss from deforestation and fragmentation is the main threat to this species.
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense ground cover. Pairs maintain small territories and communicate with soft calls and whistles. Nests are typically mossy cups placed low in vegetation or on banks, with both parents involved in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high, whistled notes, often beginning with a single drawn-out whistle followed by shorter phrases. Calls are soft, high chips given from concealed perches. Vocalizations carry well in damp cloud forest conditions.
Plumage
Compact, round-bodied antpitta with olive-brown upperparts, a grayish face, and a rich rufous-brown crown and nape. Underparts are warm buff to cinnamon with subtle shading on the breast and flanks. The face shows bold, pale crescents that frame the eye and upper cheek, giving the species its name.
Diet
Primarily feeds on arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and other small invertebrates. It gleans from leaf litter and probes mossy substrates and rotten wood. Occasionally takes small larvae and other soft-bodied prey dislodged during foraging.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or near the forest floor in dense understory, especially in bamboo and mossy thickets. Often uses shaded ravines and fallen logs that provide cover and microhabitat for prey.
