The jalca tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Peru.
Region
Northern Andes of Peru
Typical Environment
Occurs in high-elevation jalca habitats characterized by dense shrubbery, bunchgrasses, mossy thickets, and edges of elfin forest. It favors areas with deep leaf litter, damp soils, and tangled vegetation that provide cover near the ground. Birds are typically found on steep slopes, ridgelines, and ravines where shrubs and grass tussocks intermix. Streamside thickets and patches of Chusquea bamboo are also used for foraging and shelter.
Altitude Range
2600–3700 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy ground-dwelling tapaculo of high Andean shrublands, it is best detected by voice rather than by sight. The species inhabits the Peruvian “jalca,” a wet, windswept mosaic of shrubs, bunchgrasses, and elfin forest edges. Like many Scytalopus, it shows subtle plumage differences and is identified primarily by its distinctive song. It stays low to the ground, often flicking its short tail while foraging in dense cover.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense ground cover. Nests are typically placed close to or on the ground in well-concealed sites, often dome-shaped with side entrances. Territorial males sing from hidden perches within thick vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of evenly spaced notes that accelerate into a steady trill, carrying well in montane shrublands. Calls are sharp ticks and chips given from cover, often betraying the bird’s presence when it remains unseen.
Plumage
Compact, dark tapaculo with mostly slate-gray underparts and a browner, slightly warmer-toned back; flanks and undertail coverts show fine rufous to brown barring. Tail is short and often held cocked; feathers appear soft and dense, aiding camouflage in shadowy understory.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae gleaned from leaf litter, moss, and low vegetation. It probes among roots and tussocks and picks prey from damp ground. Occasional small seeds may be taken incidentally while foraging, but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or near the ground in dense shrubbery, tussock grass, and bamboo patches. Frequently works along edges of elfin forest and humid thickets, especially near ravines and streams where moisture maintains rich invertebrate communities.
