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Overview
Red-and-white antpitta

Red-and-white antpitta

Wikipedia

The red-and-white antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is endemic to Peru.

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Distribution

Region

Andes Mountains

Typical Environment

It inhabits humid montane and cloud forests on the east slope of the central Peruvian Andes. The species favors dense understory, mossy ravines, forest edges, and thickets, including patches of Chusquea bamboo. It keeps close to the forest floor, foraging in leaf litter and among roots and fallen logs. While primarily in primary forest, it can also occur in mature secondary growth where understory structure is intact.

Altitude Range

1600–3200 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size16–18 cm
Wing Span25–30 cm
Male Weight0.075 kg
Female Weight0.07 kg
Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This shy ground-dweller is far more often heard than seen, delivering clear, mournful whistles from dense understory. It moves on long legs with deliberate hops and brief dashes, rarely flying far. Nests are typically mossy cups placed low, and both parents attend the young. Birders often locate it by patient listening at dawn along quiet Andean forest trails.

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, usually low to the ground

Social Behavior

Usually encountered alone or in pairs, holding territories within dense understory. It nests low in vegetation or on banks, constructing a mossy cup. Clutch size is small, and both adults share incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A clear, melancholy whistle delivered singly or in a spaced series, carrying well through montane forest. Calls are simple but penetrating, often given at dawn and dusk from concealed perches.

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