Dusky tapaculo
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Dusky tapaculo
| image = Scytalopus fuscus 355136174.jpg
| image_caption = Dusky tapaculo, Olmué, Chile
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Scytalopus
| species = fuscus
| authority = Gould, 1837
| synonyms =
| range_map = Scytalopus fuscus map.svg
}}
The dusky tapaculo (Scytalopus fuscus) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Chile.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.1) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=January 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021 }}
Taxonomy and systematics
The dusky tapaculo was formerly considered a subspecies of Magellanic tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus). Following 1997 and 2003 publications, it was raised to species status because of vocal differences and because the two are sympatric over part of their ranges.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021
Description
The dusky tapaculo is {{convert|11|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. It is essentially gray all over, darker above and lighter below. The lower back and rump have a brown wash and the flanks are sometimes pale tawny brown with black bars.Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Dusky Tapaculo (Scytalopus fuscus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.dustap1.01 retrieved May 2, 2021
Distribution and habitat
The dusky tapaculo is found only in central Chile. It ranges from southern Atacama Region south to Biobío Region at elevations from sea level to {{convert|800|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It inhabits the bottoms of densely vegetated valleys.
Behavior
=Feeding=
=Breeding=
Little has been published about the dusky tapaculo's breeding phenology. One nest has been described. It was a globe made of root fibers and moss with a horse hair lining, placed at the end of a tunnel {{convert|0.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} long.
=Vocalization=
Status
The IUCN has assessed the dusky tapaculo as being of Least Concern. It is locally fairly common and occurs in at least one protected area. However, its habitat "has been largely destroyed and remains strongly fragmented. This species should probably be monitored".
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090111012701/http://www.avesdechile.cl/458en.htm Dusky tapaculo at Avesdechile.cl]
- [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=4615 Dusky tapaculo videos at IBC]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1265812}}
Category:Endemic birds of Chile