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ANTPITTAS (GRALLARIIDAE; 5 SPECIES) Neotropical family most diverse in
South America. Ages differ; weak juv. plumage soon replaced by adult-like plumage; sexes similar.
*SPECTACLED [STREAK-CHESTED] ANTPITTA Hylopezus perspicillatus
13.5–14.5cm. Floor of humid forest, often in fairly open but shady areas with
leaf litter; relatively easy to see, for an antpitta. Hops quickly and at times runs
like a thrush; can be confiding to a quiet observer. Sings from low perch or
ground, and may fly to low perch when flushed. No overlap with Tawny-flanked
or Thicket Antpittas. SOUNDS: Song easily imitated, a relatively unhurried,
slightly overslurred series of 6–9 mournful whistles, 1st note often short and
softer, easily missed, wh heu heu heu heu heu, every few secs; 7–9 notes/2.5–3
secs. Call a slightly descending nasal chatter of about 15 or so downslurred
notes, hew hiu-hiu..., 12–15 notes/1.5 secs. STATUS: Fairly common on s. Pacific slope, locally to 1600m.
(Costa Rica to nw. Ecuador.)
*TAWNY-FLANKED [STREAK-CHESTED] ANTPITTA Hylopezus [perspicil
latus] intermedius 13.5–14.5cm. Floor of humid forest, often along streams.
Hops on or near ground, usually well hidden; sings from low perch. Note bold
pale eyering, strong dark whisker and breast streaking, distinct wingbars, cf.
Thicket Antpitta, which is usually harder to see. SOUNDS: Song higher, more
plaintive than Spectacled Antpitta, descending overall: 1st note highest, 2nd
lower, then 3–4 slightly higher notes run into 2–4 longer notes, hiew huu hu-
hu-hu hoo hoo hoo; 7–10 notes/2.5–3 secs. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly
common on Caribbean slope, locally to 1400m. (Honduras to w. Panama.)
THICKET (FULVOUS-BELLIED) ANTPITTA Hylopezus fulviventris 13.5–
14.5cm. Dense understory thickets of humid forest, adjacent second growth,
especially along streams and at light gaps. Often heard but rarely seen. Hops on
or near ground, usually well hidden in tangled cover; sings from perch in
understory. Like a duller version of Tawny-flanked Antpitta: note face pattern,
plainer wings, diffuse dusky streaks below. SOUNDS: Song a fairly rapid,
intensifying and overall ascending series of (typically 12–14) short mellow
whistles, tü-tü…ending abruptly, 1.5–2 secs. Call a slightly descending, short
nasal chatter or rattle. STATUS: Fairly common on Caribbean slope, locally to
1100m. (Honduras to nw. Ecuador).
OCHRE-BREASTED ANTPITTA Grallaricula flavirostris 10–11cm. Tiny cute
antpitta of humid foothill forest, especially tangled understory in ravines and
around light gaps. Hops easily and stealthily on smaller branches and vines, also
on ground, often swaying its rear end slowly side-to-side; sings from low perch
in understory. Note very small size, ochre-buff face and breast with paler
eyering, diffuse dusky streaking below, small bill; cf. larger, more terrestrial
Hylopezus antpittas. SOUNDS: Inconspicuous, easily missed. Song (?) a short,
overslurred, slightly descending plaintive whistle, hieéu, usually every 6–20 or
so secs. STATUS: Uncommon on both slopes, mainly 900–1800m on Pacific
slope, 700–1300m on Caribbean slope. (Costa Rica to S America.)
SCALED ANTPITTA Grallaria guatimalensis 18–19cm. Elusive terrestrial
denizen of shady understory and tangled thickets in humid foothill forest. Hops
like a kangaroo, often surprisingly quickly, rarely runs; flushes with a whirr of
wings but without calling, and sometimes perches briefly on a low branch before
dropping to vanish like a ghost. Sings from well-hidden perch near ground.
Note broad pale mustache, rusty underparts; dark scaling often hard to see in the
field. SOUNDS: Song (heard infrequently, mainly around dawn) a quavering,
accelerating crescendo of resonant hoots that rises in pitch, slows slightly at end,
and fades abruptly, 2–3 secs. Low grunt when disturbed. STATUS: Scarce (over
looked?) on both slopes, 800–1700m. (Mexico to S America.)
