Tschudi´s Tapaculo

Tschudi´s tapaculo (Scytalopus acutirostris) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Peru.

Taxonomy and systematics: Tschudi´s tapaculo was previously considered a subspecies of Magellanic tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus) but was elevated to species status based on differences in their vocalizations.

 Tschudi´s tapaculo is long. Males weigh 17 to and females . The adult male is dark gray above and lighter gray below; the flanks have a very light brownish wash. The female is paler overall, its rump has a brown wash, and its flanks and crissum (the area around the cloaca) are tawny with black bars. The juvenile has bars and spots.

Distribution and habitat: Tschudi´s tapaculo is found only the Andes of Peru, from Amazonas south to Junín in a fairly narrow elevational range of 2675 to. There it inhabits the undergrowth of humid cloud forest. Unlike several other tapaculos, it is rarely found in bamboo.

Feeding: The diet of Tschudi´s tapaculo appears to be mostly insects but also includes seeds. No information is available about its foraging technique.

Breeding: No information is available other than that a juvenile was collected in August.

Vocalization: The song of Tschudi´s tapaculo is somewhat variable but is often short notes or a series of notes such as and . The call is repeated single notes .

Status: The IUCN has assessed Tschudi´s tapaculo as being of Least Concern. Though it has a small range and its population has not been quantified, they are both believed large enough to support that rating.