Large-footed tapaculo

{{Short description|Species of bird}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Large-footed tapaculo

| image =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22703493/93925728 |title=Large-footed Tapaculo Scytalopus macropus |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year=2016 |access-date=2 May 2021}}

| genus = Scytalopus

| species = macropus

| authority = Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896

| synonyms =

| range_map = Scytalopus macropus map.svg

}}

The large-footed tapaculo (Scytalopus macropus) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Peru.{{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

Unlike many other tapaculos, the large-footed tapaculo has been treated as a species since it was described. It is monotypic.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 large-footed tapaculo is {{convert|14|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. Males weigh {{convert|36|to|43|g|oz|abbr=on}} and two females weighed {{convert|32|and|32.5|g|oz|abbr=on}}. It is the largest species of genus Scytalopus. The adult is uniformly very dark gray. The juvenile is paler than the adult, but still dark gray. The feathers of the juvenile's upperparts are tipped with dark brown and those of the underparts with buff or off-white.Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Large-footed Tapaculo (Scytalopus macropus), 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.laftap1.01 retrieved May 2, 2021

Distribution and habitat

The large-footed tapaculo is found only in the central Andes of Peru, from southern Amazonas Department south to Junín Department. It primarily inhabits mossy undergrowth along streams in elfin forest and cloud forest. It ranges in elevation from {{convert|2400|to|3500|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Behavior

No information has been published about the large-footed tapaculo's diet or its foraging and breeding behaviors.

The large-footed tapaculo's song is "a monotonous series of...notes...usually terminating with a different (normally higher) note." [https://www.xeno-canto.org/54563].

Status

The IUCN has assessed the large-footed tapaculo as being of Least Concern. However, it has a restricted range, is very poorly known, and occurs in only one protected area.

References