The Loja tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae that the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) accepted as a new species in July 2020. It had been classified as a subspecies of paramo tapaculo. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs on the east slope of the Andes from southern Ecuador into adjacent northern Peru. It inhabits dense understory of humid montane forest, elfin forest, and shrubby edges, often with bamboo (Chusquea) and moss-laden thickets. Birds keep close to the ground along steep, damp ravines and forest edges. It tolerates some secondary growth but depends on continuous dense cover.
Altitude Range
2600–3700 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Loja tapaculo was recognized as a distinct species in 2020 after being split from the Paramo Tapaculo complex. Like many tapaculos, it is best identified by its voice rather than plumage, with a rapid, even trill typical of its group. It skulks in dense Andean undergrowth and is most often glimpsed as a small, dark shape darting between cover.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining year-round territories. Nests are placed low, often in earthen banks or dense moss, with a domed or ball-like structure lined with plant fibers. Courtship and territorial defense rely heavily on vocalizations.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rapid, even trill delivered for long bouts, sometimes slightly accelerating or decelerating. Calls include sharp ticks and chatters given from within dense cover.
Plumage
Compact, round-bodied tapaculo with mostly dark slaty-gray plumage and brownish, finely barred flanks and undertail coverts; feathers appear soft and dense.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods, including insects and their larvae, spiders, and other invertebrates gleaned from leaf litter and low vegetation. It probes mossy substrates and flicks through detritus on the forest floor. Occasionally takes small berries or other soft plant matter incidentally.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory, bamboo patches, and along damp ravines where leaf litter accumulates. Often forages near the ground, using cover to move between feeding spots.
