Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
Encyclopedia
The Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla) is a species of bird
in the Formicariidae
family. It is found in Colombia
, Ecuador
, Peru
, and Venezuela
. Its natural habitat
s are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest, which it has a much greater tolerance for than most antpittas. Usually this bird lives at elevations of 1,900 to 3,100 m.
It is mid-sized for an antpitta, averaging 18.5 cm (7.35 in) long. It has a orange-rufous head and nape. The back is olive brown and the throat is white. The belly is white overlaid with black-brown streaking, mainly on the sides and the flanks. The legs are gray-blue. This combination of field marks renders this species fairly distinctive when seen.
Though shy and secretive like all Grallaria
to some extent, this species hops into the open reasonably often, though rarely far from cover. Most often they range into open areas at or soon after dawn. In some areas, this species has become habituated to being fed worms, and in exchange can be watched by birdwatchers. The frequently heard song is often delivered from a slightly elevated perch and is loud, distinctive repeated "wheuu".
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Formicariidae
Formicariidae
The Formicariidae, formicariids, or ground antbirds are a family of smallish passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are between 10 and 20 cm in length, and are related to the antbirds, Thamnophilidae, and gnateaters, Conopophagidae...
family. It is found in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest, which it has a much greater tolerance for than most antpittas. Usually this bird lives at elevations of 1,900 to 3,100 m.
It is mid-sized for an antpitta, averaging 18.5 cm (7.35 in) long. It has a orange-rufous head and nape. The back is olive brown and the throat is white. The belly is white overlaid with black-brown streaking, mainly on the sides and the flanks. The legs are gray-blue. This combination of field marks renders this species fairly distinctive when seen.
Though shy and secretive like all Grallaria
Grallaria
Grallaria is a large genus of birds in the Formicariidae family.It contains the following 32 species:* Undulated Antpitta, Grallaria squamigera* Giant Antpitta, Grallaria gigantea* Great Antpitta, Grallaria excelsa...
to some extent, this species hops into the open reasonably often, though rarely far from cover. Most often they range into open areas at or soon after dawn. In some areas, this species has become habituated to being fed worms, and in exchange can be watched by birdwatchers. The frequently heard song is often delivered from a slightly elevated perch and is loud, distinctive repeated "wheuu".