Birds Guide

Tapaculos
Rhinocrypta lanceolata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhinocryptidae Wetmore, 1930
Genera
Pteroptochos Scelorchilus Rhinocrypta Teledromas Liosceles Psilorhamphus Merulaxis Melanopareia Eugralla Myornis Scytalopus Acropternis

The tapaculos are a family (Rhinocryptidae) of small passerine bird species found in South America.

These are terrestrial species that fly only poorly on their short wings. They have strong legs, well-suited to their habitat of grassland or forest undergrowth. The tail is cocked and pointed towards the head, and the name tapaculo derives from the Spanish for "cover your behind".

While the majority of the family are small blackish or brown birds there are some larger and more colourful species. They are best located and identified by their vocalisations.

They feed on insects, seeds and other soft plant material with their pointy bills, and will scratch on the ground like a pheasant.

Most species lay two or three white eggs in a covered environment, whether it be a burrow, hole in a tree or domed nest.

Species list:

Family Rhinocryptidae

• Genus Pteroptochos, the huet-huets
  • Black-throated Huet-huet, Pteroptochos tarnii
    Chestnut-throated Huet-huet, Pteroptochos castaneus
• Genus Pteroptochos
  • Moustached Turca, Pteroptochos megapodius
• Genus Scelorchilus
  • White-throated Tapaculo, Scelorchilus albicollis
    Chucao Tapaculo, Scelorchilus rubecula
• Genus Rhinocrypta, the gallitos
  • Crested Gallito, Rhinocrypta lanceolata
  • Sandy Gallito, Teledromas fuscus
• Genus Liosceles
  • Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Liosceles thoracicus
• Genus Melanopareia, the crescent-chests
  • Collared Crescent-chest, Melanopareia torquata
    Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, Melanopareia maximiliani
    Elegant Crescent-chest, Melanopareia elegans
    Maranon Crescent-chest, Melanopareia maranonica
• Genus Psilorhamphus
  • Spotted Bamboowren, Psilorhamphus guttatus
• Genus Merulaxis, the bristlefronts
  • Slaty Bristlefront, Merulaxis ater
    Stresemann's Bristlefront, Merulaxis stresemanni
• Genus Eugralla
  • Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, Eugralla paradoxa
• Genus Myornis
  • Ash-colored Tapaculo, Myornis senilis
• Genus Scytalopus
  • Unicolored Tapaculo, Scytalopus unicolor
    Blackish Tapaculo, Scytalopus latrans
    Trilling Tapaculo, Scytalopus parvirostris
    Large-footed Tapaculo, Scytalopus macropus
    Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Scytalopus femoralis
    Long-tailed Tapaculo, Scytalopus micropterus
    Bolivian Tapaculo, Scytalopus bolivianus
    White-crowned Tapaculo, Scytalopus atratus
    Perija Tapaculo, Scytalopus nigricans
    Santa Marta Tapaculo, Scytalopus sanctaemartae
    Pale-throated Tapaculo, Scytalopus panamensis
    Narino Tapaculo, Scytalopus vicinior
    Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Scytalopus argentifrons
    Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Scytalopus latebricola
    Merida Tapaculo, Scytalopus meridanus
    Colombian Tapaculo, Scytalopus infasciatus
    Caracas Tapaculo, Scytalopus caracae
    Spillman's Tapaculo, Scytalopus spillmanni
    Zimmer's Tapaculo, Scytalopus zimmeri
    Puna Tapaculo, Scytalopus simonsi
    Vilcabamba Tapaculo, Scytalopus urubambae
    Neblina Tapaculo, Scytalopus altirostris
    Ancash Tapaculo, Scytalopus affinis
    Paramo Tapaculo, Scytalopus canus
    Magellanic Tapaculo, Scytalopus magellanicus
    Matorral Tapaculo, Scytalopus griseicollis
    White-browed Tapaculo, Scytalopus superciliaris
    Dusky Tapaculo, Scytalopus fuscus
    Tschudi's Tapaculo, Scytalopus acutirostris
    Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Scytalopus speluncae
    Planalto Tapaculo, Scytalopus pachecoi
    Brasilia Tapaculo, Scytalopus novacapitalis
    Bahia Tapaculo, Scytalopus psychopompus
    Wetland Tapaculo, Scytalopus iraiensis
    White-breasted Tapaculo, Scytalopus indigoticus
    Diademed Tapaculo, Scytalopus schulenbergi
    Choco Tapaculo, Scytalopus chocoensis
    Ecuadorian Tapaculo, Scytalopus robbinsi
    Stiles' Tapaculo, Scytalopus stilesi
    Chusquea Tapaculo, Scytalopus parkeri
    Upper Magdalena Tapaculo, Scytalopus rodriguezi
• Genus Acropternis
  • Ocellated Tapaculo, Acropternis orthonyx

External links

• Tapaculo videos on the Internet Bird Collection