Chestnut-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochos castaneus
Philippi & Landbeck 1864
c,s Chile: Colchagua to Concepción and n Bío-Bío. Dense lowland forests and bamboo thickets up to 1500 m.
split from: Pteroptochos tarnii
insert after: Pteroptochos tarnii
Steve N.G. Howell & Sophie Webb,
Species status of the Chestnut-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochus castaneus
Bulletin B.O.C. 115, 3 (1995): 171-177
The authors argue that unicolor substantially differs vocally from the three other taxa (latrans, intermedius, subcinereus) that were so far considered conspecific. These three are now separated from unicolor, but might prove to be more than a single species still.
The affinities of unicolor are uncertain; possibly it is related to acutirostris (on the basis of similar vocalisations), but further research is needed. We therefore retain unicolor in its present location in the taxonomic sequence.
Blackish Tapaculo Scytalopus latrans
Hellmayr 1924
w Venezuela: nominate in Andean ranges; Colombia: nominate in Andean ranges ; Ecuador: nominate on w Andean slope s to n Cañar (2300-3500 m), e slope (1900-2450 m), subcinereus on w slope n to Azuay (1700-4000 m); n Peru: Amazonas, Utcubamba drainage (intermedius)
insert after: Myornis senilis
Paul Coopmans, Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Vocal evidence of species rank for nominate Unicolored Tapaculo Scytalopus unicolor
Bulletin B.O.C. 121 (2001): 208-213
Unicolored Tapaculo Scytalopus unicolor
Salvin 1895
n Peru: s Cajamarca and adjacent La Libertad. E Slopes of w Andes at 2000-3200 m.
Krabbe and Schulenberg's seminal paper is an urgently needed revision of the taxonomy of the group of Scytalopi. This is probably one of the most challenging taxonomic problems in ornithology at present. These species are almost inseparable by plumage alone, and T&S use song type, body mass and altitudinal distribution as the basis of their arrangement. Their study is based on taxa found in Ecuador, but the findings have consequences for other forms of Scytalopus. Nevertheless, some open issues remain and the current classification is still "provisional on certain points."
Grey Tapaculo
Scytalopus parvirostris
This bird was trapped at an approximate altitude of 2600 m, Siberia, depto. Santa
Cruz, Bolivia,
January 8th, 1992
© Rolf A. de By
Grey Tapaculo Scytalopus parvirostris
Zimmer 1939
c Peru: Amazonas (Cord. Colán) s to Cuzco (1800-2400 m); Bolivia: La Paz s to Santa Cruz (2000-3200 m)
split from: Scytalopus unicolor
insert after: Scytalopus unicolor
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Equatorial Rufous-vented Tapaculo Scytalopus micropterus
(Sclater) 1858
s Colombia: w slope e Andes, e slope of c,e Andes (1500-1900 m); Ecuador: e slope e Andes (1250-2100 m); n Peru: Cajamarca (1700-2000 m)
split from: Scytalopus femoralis
insert after: Scytalopus parvirostris
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
"Brown-rumped" / "Colombia" Tapaculo Scytalopus infasciatus
Chapman 1915
Colombia: e Andes ?
split from: Scytalopus meridanus
insert after: Scytalopus micropterus
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Southern White-crowned Tapaculo Scytalopus bolivianus
Allen 1889
se Peru: Puno, Cuzco(?); c Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz s to Chuquisaca (1000-2300m)
split from: Scytalopus femoralis
insert after: Scytalopus infasciatus
Robert S. Ridgely & Guy Tudor,
The Birds of South America, Volume II, The Suboscine Passerines, Oxford, 1994, p. 413-414
Santa Marta Tapaculo Scytalopus sanctaemartae
Chapman 1915
n Colombia: Santa Marta mountains (900-1700 m)
split from: Scytalopus femoralis
insert after: Scytalopus bolivianus
Robert S. Ridgely & Guy Tudor,
The Birds of South America, Volume II, The Suboscine Passerines, Oxford, 1994, p. 414-415
Northern White-crowned Tapaculo Scytalopus atratus
Hellmayr 1922
Colombia s to c Peru: e slope of Andes. Humid, primary forest undergrowth (850-1650 m in Ecu), race confusus in c,w Andes of Colombia
split from: Scytalopus femoralis
insert after: Scytalopus infasciatus
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Mérida Tapaculo Scytalopus meridanus
Hellmayr 1922
e Colombia?; w Venezuela
split from: Scytalopus latebricola
insert after: Scytalopus vicinior
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Caracas Tapaculo Scytalopus caracae
Hellmayr 1922
n Venezuela. Coastal mountains
split from: Scytalopus latebricola
insert after: Scytalopus meridanus
Robert S. Ridgely & Guy Tudor,
The Birds of South America, Volume II, The Suboscine Passerines, Oxford, 1994, p. 416-417
Spillmann's Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni
Stresemann 1937
Colombia: Antioquia, Cauca, Nariño (all c Andes); Ecuador: Napo (e Andes), w Cotopaxi, Carchi
split from: Scytalopus latebricola
insert after: Scytalopus meridanus
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Zimmer's Tapaculo Scytalopus zimmeri
Bond & Meyer de Schauensee 1940
Bolivia: Chuquisaca, Tarija
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus spillmanni
Niels Krabbe and Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Andean Tapaculo Scytalopus simonsi
Chubb 1917
s Peru; Bolivia. Andean range at high altitudes
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus zimmeri
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Cuzco Tapaculo Scytalopus urubambae
Zimmer 1939
se Peru: Cuzco
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus simonsi
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Sharp-billed Tapaculo Scytalopus acutirostris
(Tschudi) 1844
c Peru: Huánuco, Pasco. Forests
split from: Scytalopus acutirostris
insert after: Scytalopus urubambae
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Dusky Tapaculo Scytalopus fuscus
Gould 1837
c Chile: Atacama to Bío-Bío. Andes
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus superciliaris
Robert S. Ridgely & Guy Tudor,
The Birds of South America, Volume II, The Suboscine Passerines, Oxford, 1994, p. 419-420
Elfin Forest Tapaculo Scytalopus altirostris
Zimmer 1939
c Peru: Huánuco. Treeline shrub
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus magellanicus
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Ancash Tapaculo Scytalopus affinis
Zimmer 1939
n Peru: Cajamarca, Ancash. Western Andes
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus altirostris
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Páramo Tapaculo Scytalopus canus
Chapman 1915
Colombia: Antioquia, Caldas (nominate), Nariño, Cauca (opacus) (2800-2400 m); Ecuador: E Andes (3000-4000 m); Peru: Cajamarca, Piura (2600-3500 m). Treeline shrub
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus affinis
Niels Krabbe & Thomas S. Schulenberg,
Species limits and natural history of Scytalopus Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), with descriptions of the Ecuadorian taxa, including three new species
in Ornithological Monographs 48, Studies in Neotropical Ornithology honoring Ted Parker, 1997, p. 47-88
Rufous-rumped Tapaculo Scytalopus griseicollis
(Lafresnaye) 1840
Colombia: Cundinamarca, Boyacá (2600-3900m); Venezuela: Lara, Trujillo (2500-3300m). Fairly dry scrub
split from: Scytalopus magellanicus
insert after: Scytalopus canus
Robert S. Ridgely & Guy Tudor,
The Birds of South America, Volume II, The Suboscine Passerines, Oxford, 1994, p. 418-419
Full list of currently
Blackish Tapaculo
Unicolored Tapaculo
Grey Tapaculo
Equatorial Rufous-vented T.
"Brown-rumped"/"Colombia" T.
Southern White-crowned T.
Santa Marta Tapaculo
Northern White-crowned T.
Large-footed Tapaculo
Peruvian Rufous-vented T.
Tacarcuna Tapaculo
Nariño Tapaculo
Mérida Tapaculo
Caracas Tapaculo
Spillmann's Tapaculo
Zimmer's Tapaculo
Andean Tapaculo
Cuzco Tapaculo
Sharp-billed Tapaculo
Silvery-fronted Tapaculo
Brown-rumped Tapaculo
Dusky Tapaculo
Magellanic Tapaculo
Elfin Forest Tapaculo
Ancash Tapaculo
Páramo Tapaculo
Rufous-rumped Tapaculo
White-browed Tapaculo
Mouse-colored Tapaculo
Tall-grass Wetland Tapaculo
Brasilia Tapaculo
Bahia Tapaculo
White-breasted Tapaculo
Chocó Tapaculo
Ecuadorian Tapaculo
Chusquea Tapaculo
Diademed Tapaculo
recognized Scytalopi
Scytalopus latrans
Scytalopus unicolor
Scytalopus parvirostris
Scytalopus micropterus
Scytalopus infasciatus
Scytalopus bolivianus
Scytalopus sanctaemartae
Scytalopus atratus
Scytalopus macropus
Scytalopus femoralis
Scytalopus panamensis
Scytalopus vicinior
Scytalopus meridanus
Scytalopus caracae
Scytalopus spillmanni
Scytalopus zimmeri
Scytalopus simonsi
Scytalopus urubambae
Scytalopus acutirostris
Scytalopus argentifrons
Scytalopus latebricola
Scytalopus fuscus
Scytalopus magellanicus
Scytalopus altirostris
Scytalopus affinis
Scytalopus canus
Scytalopus griseicollis
Scytalopus superciliaris
Scytalopus speluncae
Scytalopus iraiensis
Scytalopus novacapitalis
Scytalopus psychopompus
Scytalopus indigoticus
Scytalopus chocoensis
Scytalopus robbinsi
Scytalopus parkeri
Scytalopus schulenbergi