Tatama tapaculo

Overview

Wikipedia

The Tatama tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to western Colombia.

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Distribution

Region

Western Andes of Colombia

Typical Environment

Occurs on the slopes of the Western Cordillera of Colombia, centered on the Tatamá massif and adjacent ranges. It inhabits dense, humid montane and cloud forests with abundant moss, tangles, and bamboo (Chusquea) thickets. Birds keep close to the ground in ravines, along stream edges, and at forest margins, occasionally moving into secondary growth if the understory remains dense. The species has a small, localized range and shows strong habitat specialization.

Altitude Range

1800–2600 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size11–12.5 cm

Wing Span16–20 cm

Male Weight0.019 kg

Female Weight0.017 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Tatamá tapaculo is a skulking, understory bird discovered and described as a distinct species in 2017. Its identity is best confirmed by voice, with a characteristic accelerating trill that differs from nearby tapaculos. The species name honors Colombian ornithologist Hernán Álvarez-López. Much of its known range lies within protected areas, including Tatamá National Natural Park.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground

Social Behavior

Typically found singly or in pairs, keeping to dense cover and moving mouse-like through the understory. Territorial songs are given from concealed perches near the ground. Nests are placed low, often in earthen banks or mossy cavities, with both members of the pair involved in care.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Song is a long, even trill that accelerates and may slightly rise in pitch, delivered persistently at dawn and during overcast periods. Calls include sharp ticks and soft chur notes used for contact within pairs.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Tawny eagle

The tawny eagle is a large bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Its heavily feathered legs mark it as a member of the subfamily Aquilinae, also known as booted eagles. Tawny eagles have an extensive but discontinuous breeding range that constitutes much of the African continent as well as the Indian subcontinent, with rare residency in the southern Middle East. Throughout its range, it favours open dry habitats such as semideserts, deserts steppes, or savanna plains. Despite its preference for arid areas, the species seldom occurs in areas where trees are entirely absent. It is a resident breeder which lays one to three eggs in a stick nest most commonly in the crown of a tree. The tawny eagle is perhaps the most highly opportunistic of all Aquilinae, and often scavenges on carrion or engages in kleptoparasitism towards other carnivorous animals but is also a bold and active predator, often of relatively large and diverse prey. It is estimated that tawny eagles can reach the age of 16 years old. Nonetheless, precipitous declines have been detected throughout the tawny eagle's range. Numerous factors, particularly loss of nesting habitat due to logging and global warming, as well as persecution and other anthropogenic mortality are driving the once numerous tawny eagle perhaps to the brink of extinction.