The Nariño tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs on the western Andean slopes of southwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, primarily in humid montane and pre-montane forests. It favors dense, shady understory with abundant mosses, vine tangles, and thickets, often near ravines and streams. Secondary growth and forest edges with thick cover can also be used. It is a ground- and near-ground specialist, moving through leaf litter and root mats.
Altitude Range
800–2300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A secretive understory bird of the tapaculo family, it is far more often heard than seen. Identification relies heavily on its distinctive songs and calls, as many Scytalopus species look very similar. It creeps mouse-like through dense vegetation, rarely taking long flights. Pairs defend small territories year-round.
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, stays low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining small territories in dense understory. Nests are typically ball-shaped structures of moss and fibers, placed in cavities, banks, or hidden in thick vegetation close to the ground. Both sexes are thought to attend the nest, though details are often inferred from close relatives.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of rapid, high-pitched notes or trills delivered at a steady pace, sometimes accelerating slightly. Calls include sharp ticks and short squeaks given from concealed perches. The song carries well through damp forest understory.
Plumage
Mostly slaty to dark gray with brownish to rufous flanks that show fine dark barring; lower back and rump can be slightly browner. Underparts are smooth gray with subtle mottling; tail dark and short. Feathers are soft and dense, aiding a compact, rounded appearance.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as insects, spiders, and their larvae, gleaned from leaf litter, mossy logs, and low vegetation. It probes crevices, root tangles, and rotten wood with quick, deliberate movements. Occasional small invertebrates are snapped from low foliage or the forest floor.
Preferred Environment
Dense, shaded understory with abundant leaf litter, mossy roots, and fallen branches. Often forages along forest edges, trails, stream banks, and in bamboo or vine thickets where cover is thick.
