The undulated antpitta is a bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests of the northern and central Andes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Prefers dense understory with thick leaf litter, mossy ravines, and thickets near streams. Often uses bamboo patches and forest edges with abundant cover. Typically keeps to the forest floor, venturing onto quiet trails and openings in low light.
Altitude Range
1600–3500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for its finely scalloped or 'undulated' underparts, this elusive ground-dweller is far more often heard than seen in Andean cloud forests. It moves with quiet hops through dense understory, freezing when disturbed and then slipping away. Its clear, mournful whistles carry far at dawn and dusk, helping birders locate this shy species.
Temperament
shy and elusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories in dense understory. Nests are typically mossy, placed low or near the ground on banks or ledges. Both adults are believed to participate in parental care, and birds spend much time quietly foraging on the forest floor.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives clear, mournful whistles, often a repeated single or double note that carries through cloud forest. Songs are most frequent at dawn and dusk, with soft contact calls while moving through cover.
