The white-breasted tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil.
Region
Atlantic Forest (southeastern Brazil)
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid Atlantic Forest from lowlands to foothills, favoring dense understory and thickets. It keeps close to the ground, using tangles of roots, bamboo, and fallen logs for cover. Often near streams and ravines where leaf litter is deep and invertebrate prey is abundant. It tolerates some secondary growth but is most frequent in mature forest. The species is patchy where forest is fragmented, with strongholds in protected reserves.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This secretive tapaculo is a ground-dwelling skulker of the Atlantic Forest understory, often revealed only by its piercing song. Its crisp white throat and upper breast stand out against otherwise dark plumage, flashing when the bird sings from low perches. It is sensitive to habitat fragmentation and persists best in well-preserved forest. Pairs defend territories year-round.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs that maintain well-defined territories. Nests are placed low, often domed structures hidden in dense vegetation or root tangles. Likely monogamous, with both sexes involved in territory defense. Birds spend much time creeping through cover rather than flying.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a loud, penetrating series of clear, high-pitched notes that accelerate into a short trill, repeated persistently from concealed perches. Calls include sharp ticks and thin whistles. Vocalizations carry far through dense forest and are the best way to detect the species.
