Large-footed tapaculo

The large-footed tapaculo (Scytalopus macropus) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Peru.^[2]

Large-footed tapaculo
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Rhinocryptidae
Genus:	Scytalopus
Species:	S. macropus
Binomial name
Scytalopus macropus Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896

Taxonomy and systematics

Unlike many other tapaculos, the large-footed tapaculo has been treated as a species since it was described. It is monotypic.^[3][2]

Description

The large-footed tapaculo is 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Males weigh 36 to 43 g (1.3 to 1.5 oz) and two females weighed 32 and 32.5 g (1.13 and 1.15 oz). It is the largest species of genus Scytalopus. The adult is uniformly very dark gray. The juvenile is paler than the adult, but still dark gray. The feathers of the juvenile's upperparts are tipped with dark brown and those of the underparts with buff or off-white.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The large-footed tapaculo is found only in the central Andes of Peru, from southern Amazonas Department south to Junín Department. It primarily inhabits mossy undergrowth along streams in elfin forest and cloud forest. It ranges in elevation from 2,400 to 3,500 m (7,900 to 11,500 ft).^[4]

Behavior

No information has been published about the large-footed tapaculo's diet or its foraging and breeding behaviors.^[4]

The large-footed tapaculo's song is "a monotonous series of...notes...usually terminating with a different (normally higher) note." .^[4]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the large-footed tapaculo as being of Least Concern.^[1] However, it has a restricted range, is very poorly known, and occurs in only one protected area.^[4]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Large-footed Tapaculo Scytalopus macropus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
2. Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (January 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021
4. Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Large-footed Tapaculo (Scytalopus macropus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.laftap1.01 retrieved May 2, 2021