The neblina tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to the Andes of northern Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Restricted to the northern Peruvian Andes, chiefly in humid montane and elfin forests. It favors dense, mossy undergrowth, bamboo (Chusquea) thickets, and steep ravines. Birds keep close to the ground, using tangles of roots, ferns, and fallen logs for cover. It may occur at forest edges and along trails where dense cover persists, but rarely ventures into open areas.
Altitude Range
2200–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A notoriously skulking tapaculo of humid Andean cloud forests, it is heard far more often than seen. Identification relies heavily on voice because several Peruvian Scytalopus look very similar. It keeps its short tail cocked and moves mouse-like through dense understory. The species’ common name refers to the persistent fog (“neblina”) in its montane habitat.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, brief flights between cover
Social Behavior
Usually found alone or in pairs, keeping to shadowy understory close to the ground. Pairs maintain small territories and communicate with repeated songs and calls. Nests are typically placed low in banks or dense vegetation, often domed or ball-like structures with a side entrance.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a long, steady series of evenly spaced, sharp notes or trills that can continue for many seconds. Calls include short ticks and dry churrs, given from concealed perches within thick cover.
Plumage
Mostly dark slaty-gray with browner, faintly barred flanks and vent; plumage is soft and plain with minimal contrast.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae gleaned from leaf litter and moss. It probes among roots, rotting logs, and dense tangles for hidden prey. Foraging is methodical and close to the ground, with frequent pauses to listen.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense, humid understory of cloud and elfin forests, especially in bamboo and mossy thickets. Often forages along shaded stream banks, landslides with regrowth, and trail edges where cover remains thick.
