# Chucao tapaculo

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Species of bird

Chucao tapaculo In Huerquehue National Park, Chile Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Rhinocryptidae Genus: Scelorchilus Species: S. rubecula Binomial name Scelorchilus rubecula (Kittlitz, 1830)

The **chucao tapaculo** (***Scelorchilus rubecula***) is a species of [bird](/source/Bird) in the family [Rhinocryptidae](/source/Rhinocryptidae). It is found in central Chile and adjacent Argentina; it has also been recorded in Chile's [Magallanes Province](/source/Magallanes_Province).[2][3]

## Taxonomy and systematics

The chucao tapaculo has two subspecies. The nominate *Scelorchilus rubecula rubecula* is primarily found in central Chile from the [Biobío Region](/source/Biob%C3%ADo_Region) south to the [Aysén Region](/source/Ays%C3%A9n_Region) and the adjoining parts of Argentina. It has occasionally been recorded further north and once in the far southern Magallanes Province. The other subspecies, *S. r. mochae*, is found only on [Mocha Island](/source/Mocha_Island) off the Chilean coast.[4][3]

## Description

The chucao tapaculo is 18.5 to 19 cm (7.3 to 7.5 in) long. Three specimens of unknown sex weighed 42.6 to 45.4 g (1.50 to 1.60 oz) and a single male specimen weighed 53.7 g (1.89 oz). The adult is dusky brown above; much of the face and the throat and upper breast are rufous. The rest of the breast is dark gray with white bars and the flanks and vent are reddish brown to olive brown.[4]

## Distribution and habitat

The chucao tapaculo occurs from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) elevation. Its [habitat](/source/Habitat) is [temperate](/source/Temperate_forest) and humid forests. It is typically found in *[Chusquea](/source/Chusquea)* bamboo thickets within *[Nothofagus](/source/Nothofagus)* forest but also inhabits secondary woodland.[4][5]

## Behavior

### Feeding

The chucao tapaculo's diet is dominated by [arthropods](/source/Arthropod) and seeds. It forages on the ground alone or in pairs. It usually remains hidden in dense foliage but occasionally feeds in more open areas.[4][6]

### Breeding

In Chile the chucao tapaculo lays eggs in September to October and in Argentina, November. The open cup nest is made of soft grass and rootlets built at the end of a burrow up to 3 m (9.8 ft) deep. Two to three eggs are laid. Both the male and female tend nestlings.[4] This species showed a pattern of aggressiveness and territoriality towards the other species of tapaculos in the forest of southern Chile.[7]

### Vocalization

The chucao tapaculo has a loud song beginning and ending with soft churrs surrounding four or five clearer, louder, and higher pitched notes [\[1\]](https://www.xeno-canto.org/508118).[4]

## Status

The [IUCN](/source/IUCN) has assessed the chucao tapaculo as of Least Concern, though the population is thought to be decreasing.[1] It seems vulnerable to [fragmentation of its habitat](/source/Habitat_fragmentation).[8][9][10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_17_November_2021_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_17_November_2021_1-1) BirdLife International (2018). ["*Scelorchilus rubecula*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22703437/130329453). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2018** e.T22703437A130329453. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22703437A130329453.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22703437A130329453.en). Retrieved 17 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-IOC11.1_2-0)** Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (January 2021). ["IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)"](http://www.worldbirdnames.org/). Retrieved January 14, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cárcamo_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cárcamo_3-1) Cárcamo, J. *et al.* (2008) First record of *Scelorchilus rubecula* (Kittlitz, 1830) (Rhinocryptidae) in Magallanes. *Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia* 36(2):79-81.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CHTA-BOW_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CHTA-BOW_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CHTA-BOW_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CHTA-BOW_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-CHTA-BOW_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-CHTA-BOW_4-5) Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Chucao Tapaculo (*Scelorchilus rubecula*), 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.chutap1.01](https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.chutap1.01)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Amico, G.C. *et al.* (2008) Spatial structure and scale-dependent microhabitat use of endemic "tapaculos" (Rhinocryptidae) in a temperate forest of southern South America. *Ecología Austral* 18:169-180.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Correa, A. *et al.* (1990) Diet of the Chucao (*Scelorchilus rubecula*), a terrestrial Passerine endemic to the temperate rain forest of austral South America. *Revista Chilena de Historia Natural* 63: 197-202.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Correa, A. & Figueroa, J.A. (2003) Observations of aggressiveness and territoriality among species of Rhinocryptidae in a rain forest fragment in Southern Chile. *Ornitologia Neotropical* 14: 121-125.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Willson, M.F. (2006) Loss of habitat connectivity hinders pair formation and juvenile dispersal of Chucao Tapaculos in Chilean rainforest. *The Condor* 106(1):166-171.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Wilson, M.F. & Pendleton, G.W. (2008) Survival of Chucaos (*Scelorchilus rubecula*) in rainforest fragments on Isla Chiloé, Chile. *Boletín Chileno de Ornitología* 14(1):2-7.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Wilson, M.F. (2006) Chucaos in Chiloé.*Boletín Chileno de Ornitología* 12:40-44.

## External links

- [Chucao Tapaculo in IBC (Internet Bird Collection](http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/chucao-tapaculo-scelorchilus-rubecula).

- [Chucao Tapaculo sounds in Xenocanto](http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Scelorchilus-rubecula).

Taxon identifiers Scelorchilus rubecula Wikidata: Q1262783 Wikispecies: Scelorchilus rubecula BirdLife: 22703437 BOLD: 89045 BOW: chutap1 CoL: 4V5DH eBird: chutap1 GBIF: 2490973 iNaturalist: 14773 IRMNG: 10215936 ITIS: 562842 IUCN: 22703437 NCBI: 112109 Neotropical: chutap1 Observation.org: 74809 Open Tree of Life: 710529 Paleobiology Database: 368163 Xeno-canto: Scelorchilus-rubecula Pteroptochos rubecula Wikidata: Q109557004 GBIF: 9789799

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chucao tapaculo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chucao_tapaculo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chucao_tapaculo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.