Crescent-faced Antpitta

The crescent-faced antpitta (''Grallaricula lineifrons'') is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

Taxonomy and systematics

The crescent-faced antpitta was originally described as ''Apocryptornis lineifrons'' but was soon moved to genus ''Grallaricula''.Chapman, F. M. (1924). Descriptions of new genera and species of Tracheophonae from Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. American Museum Novitates 123:5-6.Greeney, H. F. (2024). Crescent-faced Antpitta (''Grallaricula lineifrons''), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg and S. M. Billerman, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.crfant1.02 retrieved September 13, 2024 It is monotypic.

Description

"''Grallaricula'' are very small Andean antpittas, found mostly in low dense vegetation (such as treefall gaps, stream edges, and bamboo thickets)."Schulenberg, T.S., D.F. Stotz, D.F. Lane, J.P. O’Neill, and T.A. Parker III. 2010. ''Birds of Peru''. Revised and updated edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Plate 180 The crescent-faced antpitta is long and weighs . The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have the eponymous white crescent from the crown through the lores and almost to the throat and a small white spot behind the eye. Their crown and nape are dark sooty gray and their face black. The crescent's bottom becomes ochraceous buff and they have a spot of that color on the side of their neck. Their upperparts are brownish olive. Their wings and tail are browner than their back with whitish or light yellow-buff on the leading edge of the outermost primary. The center of their chin and upper throat are white with black stripes between them and the crescent. Their underparts are mostly white with a strong ochraceous buff wash and black stripes. Their sides and flanks are dull brownish olive with an ochraceous buff wash and faint dark gray stripes. Their undertail coverts are ochraceous buff. Both sexes have a dark brown iris, a black bill, and vinaceous gray to blue-gray legs and feet.

Distribution and habitat

The crescent-face antpitta is found in scattered locations in Colombia's Central Andes from Quindío Department south on the eastern Andean slope to Loja Province in southern Ecuador. It inhabits the undergrowth of humid forest, both cloudforest and elfin forest near but not past treeline. It does not appear to be as closely associated with bamboo as many other ''Grallaricula'' antpittas. Though earlier publications gave a lower elevation limit of , more recent and more detailed studies show it occurs almost entirely above . It reaches at least in Colombia and in Ecuador.

Behavior

Movement

The crescent-faced antpitta is resident throughout its range.

Feeding

The crescent-faced antpitta is one of several antpittas that regularly come to feeding stations set up to view them. There they are fed earthworms, which are thought to also be a large part of their natural diet. In the wild they also feed on insects, spiders, and other arthropods, though details are lacking. It typically forages singly or in pairs, hopping through dense foliage and much less frequently on the ground. It gleans prey from foliage from a perch or by short reaches and sallies, and captures prey from leaf litter on the ground.

Breeding

The crescent-faced antpitta's breeding season in Ecuador apparently spans from November to April. Its nest is usually a shallow cup of moss and twigs on a platform of moss and sticks and lined with rootlets and other flexible fibers. Some are built on a tuft of moss or on another bird's old nest rather than a platform. They are supported by small branches, vines, or a clump of moss or epiphytes. Nests have been noted between above the ground. Both sexes build the nest and provision nestlings. The clutch size, incubation period, time to fledging, and other details of parental care are not known.

Vocalization

What appears to be the crescent-faced antpitta's primary song is "an ascending series of piping notes, helast several rather shrill, e.g., ''pu-pu-pu-pe-pe-pee-pee-pi-pi-pi?''". Other vocalizations include "a soft, downslurred whistle" and a "''Chup!''". The species is seldom heard or seen unless prompted with a recording. When seen singing it is usually on a low perch in dense vegetation.

Status

The IUCN originally in 1988 assessed the crescent-faced antpitta as Threatened, then in 2004 as Near Threatened, and since 2019 as being of Least Concern. It has a large overall range; its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. "Agricultural expansion has led to widespread and severe deforestation of montane forest within the species's range. Remaining forests are degraded as a consequence of timber extraction for charcoal production...Nevertheless, the species may tolerate patchy, degraded forests and secondary growth, and therefore is less at risk than feared." It occurs in several nominally protected areas in both countries but those in Ecuador are subject to illegal cutting and burning for pasture.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1270558

Grallaricula
Birds of the Colombian Andes
Birds of the Ecuadorian Andes
Birds described in 1924
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot