Crested Gallito Rhinocrypta lanceolata Scientific name definitions

The Crested Gallito is a handsome and rather uncharacteristic tapaculo, ironically it is the species that gave the scientific name to the family. The name itself, Rhinocrypta, means “hidden nose” as the nostrils are hidden by a bill plate, the adaptive significance of this feature is unknown. The Crested Gallito has a rather expressive crest that is often pointed up and forward of the crown in a characteristic angle unlike other crested species, although it can by lowered to the rear of the crown as well; highlighting the crest is its pattern of rufous with white streaks. The Crested Gallito is sandy brown above, grayish on the face and neck and has vivid and contrasting rufous flanks. Also characteristic is the long tail that is often cocked, and the broad and long uppertail coverts that drape over the base of the tail. This is a highly terrestrial bird when foraging and it has thick and strong legs. While singing it sits higher up on a bush, often right at the top, being relatively easy to see for a tapaculo. It is found in Monte and Chaco habitats of central Argentina, reaching north into westernmost Paraguay, and easternmost Bolivia.

21 cm; male 59–63·5 g, female 51·5–64 g. Adult has crown, sides of head and nape cinnamon, streaked white, feathers of crown elongated and forming crest; upperparts olive-grey; throat and breast pale grey, becoming whitish on centre of underparts; side of breast and underbody chestnut, rear flanks, lower belly and vent olive-grey; iris brown; upper mandible black, lower medium grey with dark tip; tarsus black. Juvenile undescribed. Race saturata is darker, with back more brownish, rump more olive-brown (less greyish), white of belly more restricted, crissum darker.

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.

Dense thorny parts of open brush and undergrowth in Chaco woodland. Mostly terrestrial; sings from bush, sometimes from exposed perch. Sea-level to 1800 m; race saturata only in lowlands.

Presumably sedentary.

Feeds on arthropods. Walks or runs along the ground, or hops through low branches.

Song , given only during breeding season, especially in early morning, a loud, resonant “chirrup” at 1·5 kHz repeated at intervals of 2–4 seconds. Call , repeated every 1–2 seconds, a trilled “wheerrr” at 2 kHz; alarm a violent “cre” at 3–4 kHz, given in series of 1–3 every 2–4 seconds.

Lays in Sept–Dec, in some years also in Jan. Nest is a bulky, untidy, globular structure, primarily constructed of grass but also of weed stems, bits of bark and plant fibres, and lined with hair, wool or cotton, with large irregular opening in one side; placed 1–2 m up in large, dense, thorny bush or small tree, preferentially Capparis atamisquea but sometimes Geoffroea decorticans, Prosopis flexuosa, Condalia microphylla, Bulnesia retama, Atriplex lampa or Senecio, or in Trithrinax palm; nest normally used for only a single season. Clutch 1–3 eggs, usually 2, measuring 27·7 × 20·8 mm, laid on alternate days; male takes part in incubation, which lasts 16–17 days; nestling period 14–15 days. Nest is sometimes parasitized by Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis).

Not globally threatened. Uncommon to locally fairly common; although elusive for most of year, sometimes fairly bold during breeding season when singing. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Sierra de las Quijadas and Lihué Calel National Parks, Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve, El Leoncito Strict Nature Reserve, Formosa Nature Reserve and Chancaní Natural Reserve, in Argentina.