Chestnut-crowned antpitta

Chestnut-crowned antpitta
G. r. ruficapilla, Colombia
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Grallariidae
Genus:	Grallaria
Species:	G. ruficapilla
Binomial name
Grallaria ruficapilla Lafresnaye, 1842

The chestnut-crowned antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla) is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and heavily degraded former forest, which it has a much greater tolerance for than most antpittas. Usually this bird lives at elevations of 1,900 to 3,100 meters (6,200–10,200 ft).

It is mid-sized for an antpitta, averaging 18.5 centimeters (7.3 in) long. It has an orange-rufous head and nape. The back is olive brown and the throat is white. The belly is white overlaid with black-brown streaking, mainly on the sides and the flanks. The legs are gray-blue. This combination of field marks renders this species fairly distinctive when seen.

Though shy and secretive like all Grallaria to some extent, this species hops into the open reasonably often, though rarely far from cover. Most often they range into open areas at or soon after dawn. In some areas, this species has become habituated to being fed worms, and in exchange can be watched by birdwatchers. The frequently heard song is often delivered from a slightly elevated perch and is loud, distinctive repeated "wheuu".

References

• The Birds of Ecuador by Robert S. Ridgely & Paul Greenfield. Cornell University Press (2001), ISBN 978-0-8014-8722-4.

External links

Audio recordings of Grallaria ruficapilla on Xeno-canto.