Pale-bellied Tapaculo Scytalopus griseicollis Scientific name definitions

The Pale-bellied Tapaculo is a small Scytalopus that is restricted to the eastern Andes of Colombia and immediately adjacent Venezuela. Although in many individuals the breast and the belly are pale gray, the color of the underparts is variable; more distinctive are the bright ochraceous flanks, which have little or no dusky barring, and which contrast with the gray color that dominates the rest of the plumage. This tapaculo occupies the understory of upper elevation humid montane forest, elfin forest and shrubs in paramo at treeline. As is typical of Scytalopus, the Pale-bellied Tapaculo may allow a close approach, but often remains in dense cover, where it can be difficult to see. The Pale-bellied Tapaculo forages solitarily or in pairs close to ground, where it feeds primarily on small invertebrates, but otherwise its biology is essentially unknown.

10–11·5 cm; 16·6–19·3 g (nominate), one male morenoi 17 g, two male gilesi 17·5–18 g. A fairly small tapaculo with bright orange unbarred flanks and pale belly. Adult is mostly grey to dark grey, with back and wings fuscous grey, rump orange-brown, tail brown; breast grey, belly whitish, flanks and vent orange-brown; iris dark; bill blackish; tarsus brownish. Juvenile is cinnamon-brown, all narrowly barred dusky. Race gilesi differs from nominate in having a darker and less brownish back and tail, and darker, more slate-grey underparts, as well as longer tail. Race morenoi differs from both nominate and gilesi in its brown (not grey) mantle, tail, wing-coverts and nape, while juvenile differs mainly in being darker ventrally (scalloped white) than juveniles of both other races, and darker above than nominate; adult is also shorter-tailed than race gilesi. Previously recognized race infasciatus is now considered inseparable from nominate.

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.

Low humid and semi-humid scrub in elfin forest, páramo and rarely in montane and oak forest, including heavily disturbed and fragmented habitats, at 2000–3900 m (once at 1300 m), in some areas favouring stands of Chusquea bamboo in humid treeline forest.

Probably sedentary.

Virtually no information, but presumably insectivorous.

Song 10–15 seconds long, an introductory note at 1·8 kHz followed by trill at even pace of 21–25 up-downstroke notes per second, rising after few notes to constant pitch of 2·2 kHz (first overtone; fundamental almost as loud, occasionally loudest). Scold similar to song, but only 1–1·5 seconds long, sometimes without introductory note, pitch either rising distinctly throughout, or rising at first and falling at end; similar but higher-pitched (3 kHz) scold may also be from this species. Minor vocal differences exist among the races, with recently described morenoi having an on average higher-pitched scold than nominate griseicollis, although this is not diagnostic, while compared to gilesi, morenoi has a faster, higher-frequency song and higher-frequency scold; compared to nominate griseicollis, gilesi has a slower and lower song, and lower frequency scold.

Very poorly known. Adult in breeding condition collected in Aug, with fledglings collected in late Apr, Jun and Sept (morenoi), or Jun–Dec (gilesi). Two eggs of nominate race measured 20·8 mm × 15·6 mm. No other information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally fairly common in vicinity of Bogotá; tolerates considerable habitat disturbance and fragmentation; the W slope of the E Andes, where most potentially suitable habitat for race morenoi occurs, is the second-most deforested cloud forest region in the Colombian Andes, with only small and more isolated fragments remaining. Race gilesi is locally abundant within its comparatively small range, with an estimated density of 2.65 individuals/ha and a total population of perhaps 2300–3300 individuals. Fairly common in Chingaza National Park and also occurs in Serranía de los Yariguíes and Tamá National Parks; probably occurs also in Pisba, Sumapaz and Cordillera de los Picachos National Parks.