Peru Bird Species XVI: Undulated Antpitta

	Passeriformes
	Grallariidae
	Grallaria
	From Venezuela to Bolivia
	Least Concern

Taxonomy

• First described by Florent Prévost and Marc Athanase Parfait Å’illet des Murs in 1842

• Two recognized subspecies:

  • G. s. squamigera: northern Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru)

  • G. s. canicauda: southwestern Ecuador, southern Peru, central Bolivia

Description

• Length: ~20–21 cm

• Weight: ~50–70 g

• Shape: Round body, long legs, terrestrial

• Plumage:

  • Upperparts: Brown with fine undulating barring

  • Underparts: Buff to rufous with subtle barring

  • Head: Rounded with darker crown

• Subspecies differences:

  • G. s. canicauda: slightly grayer upperparts, paler underparts

Range and Habitat

• Range: Andes from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia

• Habitat:

  • Humid montane forests

  • Polylepis woodlands

  • Areas dense with Chusquea bamboo

• Elevation: ~2,000–2,800 m, locally variable

• Behavior: Mostly on forest floor, elusive

Behavior and Feeding

• Diet: Earthworms, insects, other invertebrates; occasionally small lizards

• Foraging:

  • Terrestrial, hopping through leaf litter

  • Rarely flies more than short distances above ground

  • Usually solitary or in pairs

• Observation: Sometimes attracted to feeding stations offering worms

Breeding

• Nest: Bulky cup made of moss, sticks, dead leaves

• Placement: ~2–2.5 m above ground in dense vegetation

• Clutch: Single egg recorded; chick fed by parents

• Details: Limited knowledge overall; breeding habits not well documented

Conservation Status

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

• Population: Apparently stable; locally fairly common in Venezuela and western Ecuador, less common elsewhere

• Threats: No major global threats; habitat loss could impact local populations

Source: Wikipedia

Photo: Holmes Pantoja @BHM