Ecuadorian Tapaculo Scytalopus robbinsi Scientific name definitions

The Ecuadorian Tapaculo is one of the growing number of species of Scytalopus that only recently were described to science. This species occupies the lower slopes of the Andes and Andean foothills in southwestern Ecuador; it is extremely similar (or identical!) in appearance to the Choco Tapaculo (Scytalopus chocoensis), but the Ecuadorian Tapaculo occurs farther south, and the song is given at a faster rate. In view of the wide extent of deforestation in southwestern Ecuador, the conservation status of this species is rated as Endangered. In common with many other species of Scytalopus, the Ecuadorian Tapaculo may allow a close approach, but typically remains in dense cover, where it can be difficult to see; it is heard far more often than it is seen. The Ecuadorian Tapaculo forages solitarily or in pairs close to ground, where it feeds primarily on small invertebrates, but otherwise its biology is essentially unknown.

11 cm; male 18·1–21 g, female 18·7–19·5 g. A fairly small tapaculo with relatively heavy bill and dark-barred brown flanks . Male is mostly dark grey above, feathers tipped blackish; nape, lower back, uppertail-coverts, rump (sometimes) and inner remiges (usually) dark brown, or rump dark-barred cinnamon-brown; tail blackish; grey below, belly sometimes with broad but indistinct silvery feather tips, lower sides, flanks, extreme lower belly and undertail-coverts cinnamon-brown, barred blackish; iris dark brown; bill blackish; tarsus brown to dark brown on front and outside, somewhat lighter behind and on inside. Female has brown of nape reaching to upper mantle, brown wing-coverts with black subterminal dot or bar, tertials with buff spot at tip of outer web, throat somewhat lighter, upper belly sometimes with distinct whitish tips, entire lower belly cinnamon-brown with blackish bars (or bars only on lower parts); bare parts as male, but 1 individual had front and inner parts of tarsus paler brown than rear and outer. Juvenile not described.

Pacific slope in SW Ecuador (Azuay and El Oro).

Four stomachs contained insects , one held small insects, and one contained beetles 3–4 mm long. Forages on and near the ground.

Male song a minute-long series of a resonant double note at pace of 4·4–5·3 per second, first note a down-upstroke at 2·7–3 kHz, second an up-downstroke at 2·6–2·8 kHz (first overtone; fundamental audible). Female call a single, rising “quick” at 1·4 kHz with several loud overtones; female also gives a series 15–20 seconds long of 10–20 falling notes , gradually descending from 5·7 to 3·6 kHz (second overtone; first overtone audible).

ENDANGERED. Rare and local within a very small known range. Recorded from region of Molleturo along the Cuenca road (Azuay), and from Buenaventura (El Oro). Recent records are from the latter site only. No population estimate, but fewer than 10,000 mature individuals conjectured BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Scytalopus robbinsi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 15/09/2016. . Owing to widespread habitat fragmentation and deforestation within its small range, population is suspected to be declining rapidly. Although it may be found in Cordillera de Molleturo Protection Forest, the reserve and its environs are affected by logging and mining. Little of its range enjoys any form of protection; indeed, far from sufficient habitat is protected to ensure the survival of this tapaculo or that of the El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), which has a similar distribution. Does not occur in any national protected area (1 Freile, J.F. and Rodas, F. (2008). Conservación de aves en Ecuador: ¿cómo estamos y qué necesitamos hacer? Cotinga. 29: 48–55. Close ), but is found at the Jocotoco Foundation's 2200 ha Buenaventura reserve (2 Athanas, N., and P. Greenfield (2016). Birds of Western Ecuador: A Photographic Guide. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. Close ) where it is apparently rare and has declined BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Scytalopus robbinsi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 15/09/2016. . Considered a high priority for future research (1 Freile, J.F. and Rodas, F. (2008). Conservación de aves en Ecuador: ¿cómo estamos y qué necesitamos hacer? Cotinga. 29: 48–55. Close ).