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 - Diamantina Tapaculo
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Diamantina Tapaculo Scytalopus diamantinensis Scientific name definitions

Jon Fjeldså and Christopher J. Sharpe
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated May 3, 2017

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Introduction

Described in the same year (2007) as the Sincora Antwren (Formicivora grantsaui), the Diamantina Tapaculo is endemic to the same well-circumscribed, tiny region, of central Bahia, in eastern Brazil. This tapaculo is to date known solely from the Chapada Diamantina at elevations of 850–1600 m. It clearly belongs to the taxonomically complex Scytalopus speluncae group, and some authorities have considered it to be belonging to the same species as the even more recently described Rock Tapaculo (Scytalopus petrophilus) from the southern Espinhaço mountains. The Diamantina Tapaculo is reported to be diagnosable based on vocal, plumage, and molecular characters from all other Brazilian taxa within this genus. Although its song differs little from those of the closely related species, its calls are notably distinct.

Field Identification

c. 10–11 cm; c. 15 g. A mouse-grey tapaculo with buff or rufous flanks conspicuously barred blackish, and relatively short tail. Male  is dark grey above, some brown and black barring on rump and uppertail-coverts; chin light grey, throat and breast slightly darker, belly medium-grey, becoming paler in centre of lower belly; flanks, thighs and lowermost belly brown to cinnamon, barred blackish, undertail-coverts barred blackish and cinnamon; iris very dark brown; bill black, some brown patches; legs and feet brown, soles yellowish-brown. Female is browner above. Adults are indistinguishable in plumage from <em>S. pachecoi</em> . Immature  differs from S. pachecoi in having one or two black blotches on brown outer webs of upperwing-coverts, and over both webs a wide black bar, a narrower brown bar and a terminal black band.

Systematics History

Probably sister to S. petrophilus (1); see also S. novacapitalis and S. speluncae (below). Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Chapada Diamantina, in C Bahia, in E Brazil.

Habitat

Fragments of dense forest in region characterized by campo rupestre habitat, at 850–1600 m. An undescribed population possibly of this species in SE Bahia inhabits more open scrubby and rocky habitat.

Movement

Probably sedentary.

Diet and Foraging

No information.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song composed of long (often more than a minute) and fast repetition of one simple note, series generally faster-paced and lower-pitched than those of congeners (but some overlap), and accelerated ending somewhat slower compared with songs of close relatives. Has unique call, a single “tcheep” note, higher-pitched than that of E Brazilian congeners.

Breeding

A nest found in Jan 2016, containing two nestlings, was in a rock crevice 50 cm above the ground; the bowl-shaped nest was made of grasses and was 15 cm in external diameter and 3 cm deep; the nestlings were being fed by the two adults (2). No further information.

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Central Brazilian Hills and Tablelands EBA. Has moderately small range, limited to Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia, in which extent and quality of suitable habitat are diminishing. Found at five localities over which Area of Occupancy estimated to be 32 km2 BirdLife International (2017) Species factsheet: Scytalopus diamantinensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 03/05/2017. . Forest habitat is being cleared for coffee and banana plantations, and local slash-and-burn agriculture and pasture-renewal practices pose a threat to remaining forest patches; firewood harvesting for domestic and industrial use and unregulated tourism are causing a decline in quality of habitat that is left. The species should be monitored. It occurs within the Chapada Diamantina National Park. Considered Endangered at the national level in Brazil (3).

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

Recommended Citation

Fjeldså, J. and C. J. Sharpe (2020). Diamantina Tapaculo (Scytalopus diamantinensis), 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.diatap2.01
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