Mouse-colored Tapaculo Scytalopus speluncae Scientific name definitions

The Mouse-colored Tapaculo is usually considered to be endemic to the coastal mountains of southeast Brazil, where it inhabits humid montane forest below 2500 m. The species is generally fairly common, but is far more often heard than seen. Its plumage is unique among southeast Brazilian Scytalopus, with the exception of the exclusively wetland-inhabiting Marsh Tapaculo (Scytalopus iraiensis), in being basically all dark gray. Recent years have witnessed considerable upheaval in our knowledge of Brazilian tapaculos, especially in respect of this species. Firstly, those birds in the far south of the Mouse-colored Tapaculo’s range, namely in northeast Argentina and southernmost Brazil, were reassigned to a new species, Planalto Tapaculo (Scytalopus pachecoi). This was followed by considerable discussion concerning the correct application of the name Scytalopus speluncae, and the true identity of its holotype.

10·5 cm; male 11·5–16 g, female 12·5–15 g. A small, dark tapaculo, often without brown on flanks. Male is uniformly dark grey; iris dark brown; bill blackish; tarsus dark brown. Female is similar to male, but usually somewhat browner, with some lightly barred brown on flanks. Juvenile is dusky-barred brown throughout; immature and subadult washed with brown above, variably barred with dusky on wing and underparts.

E & SE Brazil in W Espírito Santo and S Minas Gerais S to N Rio Grande do Sul.

Inhabits dense humid forest undergrowth, including pure stands of Chusquea and Arthrostylidium bamboo, where it frequents piles of dead stalks. Occurs at 1000–2870 m, lower in S; locally, overlaps in range with Eleoscytalopus indigoticus, at 800–1500 m.

Probably sedentary.

Diet known to include tiny insects. Feeds while hopping rapidly along on the ground, or within 1 m of it, crossing small open spaces very quickly; appears mouse-like.

Song usually 6–20 seconds long, a “tseh” note at 3·7–5 kHz (first overtone), repeated at 5–6 notes per second, sometimes beginning with slower, lower notes of different quality; similar to song of closely related S. iraiensis, but shorter, the fundamental softer than the first overtone, and beginning of song with shorter notes at faster pace; a 4–4·2 kHz note repeated somewhat irregularly at intervals of c. 2 seconds, “tsee, tsee”, probably given by female. Call a short “birret”; also a rapid series of 4–5 sharp notes at 4 kHz, a 2 kHz “it” as 2–3 notes, and a complex “brzk” with five audible harmonics.

Only information published to date concerns an unseen (and thus undescribed) nest, found in early Nov in Rio Grande do Sul, to which both adults were observed carrying food and removing faecal sacs, and in which begging young could be heard; the nest was apparently sited among rocks covered with dense herbaceous vegetation within semi-evergreen forest, mostly secondary, on a road embankment (3 Maurício, G. N., G. A. Bencke, M. Repenning, D. Borges Machado, R. A. Dias, and L. Bugoni (2013). Review of the breeding status of birds in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Iheringia Série Zoológica 103(2):163–184. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common to locally common, but uncommon in Rio Grande do Sul. Not rare in Serra do Caparaó National Park (Minas Gerais/Espírito Santo), where more frequent than in Rio de Janeiro state, but also fairly common in Itatiaia National Park, and common in high parts of Serra do Mar State Park. Found in several other protected areas, e.g. Aparados da Serra National Park and Serra dos Órgãos National Park. If further research indicates that this taxon does, in fact, encompass more than one species, it is possible that certain conservation measures may be needed.