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 - Brasilia Tapaculo
 - Brasilia Tapaculo
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Brasilia Tapaculo Scytalopus novacapitalis Scientific name definitions

Niels Krabbe and Thomas S. Schulenberg
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated October 7, 2019

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Introduction

Discovered by Helmut Sick during biological surveys prior to the establishment of the modern-day capital of Brazil, Brasília, this tapaculo occurs in swampy gallery forest and dense streamside vegetation in the states of Goiás, Distrito Federal, and west Minas Gerais, all in central Brazil. The species seems to be mostly rare, occurring at low densities, but it can be locally common and is known from six protected areas. Nonetheless, the Brasilia Tapaculo is currently listed as Near Threatened according to IUCN criteria. In plumage, but not voice, this species is perhaps most similar to the White-breasted Tapaculo (Eleoscytalopus indigoticus), with which there is no geographical overlap. It is dark plumbeous above with obviously much paler underparts, and a buffy-rufous rump and vent, faintly barred dusky, yellowish-orange legs, and a dusky bill with a yellowish base to the mandible.

Field Identification

11 cm; one male 19·2 g, two unsexed 15·6 g and 18·6 g. A small tapaculo with light underparts  . Adult is dark bluish-grey above , lower back and rump reddish-brown; pale grey below , centre of belly whitish, flanks and vent extensively rufous with grey bars; iris dark brown; maxilla blackish, mandible slightly paler; tarsus yellowish-brown. Juvenile undescribed.

Systematics History

Genetic data indicate that this species is sister to S. pachecoi (1); these two form a clade together with S. petrophilus and S. diamantinensis (2, 3). See also S. speluncae. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

S Brazil locally in E Goiás, Distrito Federal and W Minas Gerais.

Habitat

Swampy gallery forest, especially permanently flooded parts dominated by Blechnum ferns and Euterpe palms. Occurs at 800–1000 m.

Movement

Probably sedentary.

Diet and Foraging

Recorded food items include insects (pupae, larvae, small imagos), spiders, and centipedes (Chilopoda). Mainly terrestrial .

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song , given in late morning, a repetition up to 1 minute long of “ewk” note at 2·5–3·5 kHz (fundamental), 1–1·3 notes per second; sometimes, another bird (presumably female) duets with similar but higher-pitched song. Alarm a rapid series of 6–8 sharp 2·5 kHz (fundamental) notes, with almost equally loud first overtone, “che-te-te”; call a loud series of “chip”, five per second, rising in volume.

Breeding

One specimen with active gonads in Jul. No further information.

ENDANGERED. Previously considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Central Brazilian Hills and Tablelands EBA. Generally rare; locally common. Occurs at low density, and has local distribution. Present in at least six protected areas, including Brasília and Serra da Canastra National Parks. Although its habitat has suffered less from clearance for agriculture than has adjacent campo cerrado, regular annual burning of grassland in the latter has led to loss of some habitat through associated fires; habitat has also been lost through wetland drainage.

Distribution of the Brasilia Tapaculo - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Brasilia Tapaculo

Recommended Citation

Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Brasilia Tapaculo (Scytalopus novacapitalis), 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.bratap1.01
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