Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris Scientific name definitions

This tiny antpitta inhabits the undergrowth of wet montane forest at elevations of 500–2750 m, from Costa Rica south over both slopes of the Andes, as far as southern Ecuador in the west, and to central Bolivia on the east slope. Considerable morphological variation has led to the description of eight subspecies, which vary quite dramatically in underparts coloration and pattern, and to a lesser extent in face pattern, but to date the species’ vocalizations are so incompletely known that it is impossible to draw any conclusions as to whether more than one species is involved. All of them are generally olive-brown above, but below they vary from being largely rufous to heavily scalloped on a pale buff background, or more streaked over a buff or virtually white background. The Ochre-breasted Antpitta is, like all Grallaricula, still very poorly known in terms of its ecology and behavior, which is unsurprising considering how difficult the species is to observe.

10 cm; male 14–17 g (brevis), 14·5–18 g (similis/boliviana), female 14–18 g (similis/boliviana). Adult has lores and eyering ochraceous; olive-brown above, crown with slight grey wash; flight-feathers edged rufescent brown; face, throat and breast ochraceous, ragged black malar stripe, flanks tawny; breast with olive-brown streaks or scallop marks, variable in extent, usually some short dusky streaks also on flanks; belly and crissum white; iris dark brown; upper mandible black, lower yellow; tarsus fleshy grey. Juvenile not described. Race costaricensis is very similar to nominate, but with reduced dusky markings below; brevis resembles previous, but more olivaceous above, crown greyer; ochraceiventris, <em>mindoensis</em> and zarumae virtually inseparable, all highly variable below, breast well streaked to almost plain, abdomen white or light ochraceous, also bill all yellow or with upper mandible dark; boliviana is brown above, crown tinged grey, broad buff eyering, buff moustache bordered blackish, buff throat streaked blackish, semi-concealed white crescent across lower throat, buff breast feathers bordered blackish (V-shaped scalloping), white belly, buff-brown flanks scalloped with black, small pale patch at base of primaries (sometimes visible), outer web of alula buffy; similis resembles previous but larger, upperparts washed with olive, crown and nape darker than back, underside more heavily scalloped.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Undergrowth of humid and wet montane forest at 500–2750 m, mostly 900–2200 m.

Presumably sedentary.

One stomach held insects. Forages alone or in pairs . Hops through thick tangled undergrowth, often clinging sideways to mossy trunks and vines, usually within 1 m of ground; makes brief sallies to foliage, trunks or the ground. Does not associate with mixed-species flocks.

Rarely heard song 7 seconds long, an evenly paced series of c. 30 notes, over first half rising in volume and in pitch from 3 to 3·4 kHz, then steady. Call a single emphatic whistle 0·3 seconds long at 3–3·4 kHz, repeated at intervals of 8–14 seconds.

Female ready to lay collected in Aug in NW Ecuador (Carchi); apparent courtship feeding seen in May. Nest built mean 3·1 m up small to medium-sized tree, cup-shaped, made of green moss and lined with twigs and black rhizomorphs. Clutch 1–2 eggs; incubation 17–21 days; nestling period estimated at 14–16 days.

Not globally threatened. Uncommon to locally fairly common; probably overlooked. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. La Planada Nature Reserve, Colombia, and also in Podocarpus National Park, in Ecuador.