The Sierra Nevada antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia.
Region
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northern Colombia
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, using dense understory, mossy ravines, and bamboo tangles. It favors shaded slopes with thick leaf litter where it can forage discreetly. The species is highly localized and patchily distributed, tracking intact forest and microhabitat structure. It may persist in selectively logged forest if dense understory remains, but avoids open edges and heavily disturbed areas.
Altitude Range
1800–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A recently recognized species from the Rufous Antpitta complex, it is restricted to the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif in northern Colombia. It is notoriously shy, spending most of its time on or near the forest floor in dense, mossy understory. Its low, booming song often reveals its presence long before the bird is seen. Habitat loss and fragmentation within its tiny range are the primary concerns for its long-term survival.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats over low, brief flights; primarily hops on ground
Social Behavior
Usually encountered alone or in pairs, maintaining territories within dense understory. Nests are mossy cups placed low above the ground or on banks, with both members of a pair participating in care. Clutch size is typically one to two eggs, and breeding coincides with periods of higher rainfall.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a low, resonant series of booming notes, often given at long intervals and carrying through cloud forest. Calls include soft hoots and hollow whistles, delivered from hidden perches close to the ground.
Plumage
Overall rufous to cinnamon-brown with a plain, slightly darker back and wings and paler, warm buff underparts; generally unpatterned with a soft, uniform texture. Throat slightly paler, sometimes with faint buff mottling; no wingbars. Face can show subtle grayish tones around the lores and auriculars.
Diet
Primarily feeds on arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and caterpillars, gleaned from leaf litter and low vegetation. It will also take earthworms and small amphibians when available. Foraging is methodical, involving pauses, short hops, and leaf flipping. It may occasionally attend army-ant swarms to capture flushed prey.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor and along narrow trails or ravines with thick leaf litter. Prefers areas with dense shrubs, bamboo clumps, and mossy tangles that provide cover.
