White-throated tapaculo

{{Speciesbox | name = White-throated tapaculo | image = Scelorchilus albicollis 236516191.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Scelorchilus albicollis'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22703434A93922860 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22703434A93922860.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Scelorchilus | species = albicollis | authority = (Kittlitz, 1830) | synonyms = | range_map = Scelorchilus albicollis map.svg }}

The '''white-throated tapaculo''' ('''''Scelorchilus albicollis''''') is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Chile.

==Taxonomy and systematics==

The white-throated tapaculo has two subspecies. The nominate ''Scelorchilus albicollis albicollis'' was described by Kittlitz in 1830. The second, ''S. a. atacamae'', was described by Carl Eduard Hellmayr in 1924.<ref name=IOC11.1>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.1) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=January 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021 }}</ref>

==Description==

The adult of the nominate subspecies of white-throated tapaculo has a cinnamon forehead, a bold white supercilium, and gray-brown upper parts. The rump is lightly barred. The underparts are whitish darkening to pale cinnamon on the belly. Most of the underparts have dark brown bars. The subspecies ''S. a. atacamae'' is similarly colored but paler; in particular the upper parts are much more gray than brown. The juveniles are similar to the adults but barred all over. The white-throated tapaculo is approximately {{convert|19|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=Krabbe>Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). White-throated Tapaculo (''Scelorchilus albicollis''), 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.whttap1.01 retrieved April 24, 2021</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==

The white-throated tapaculo is found only in Chile. Subspecies ''S. a. atacamae'' ranges from the Antofagasta Region south to the northern part of the Coquimbo Region. ''S. a. albicollis'' is found from the Coquimbo Region south to the Maule Region.<ref name=Krabbe/> The more northern part of its range is characterized by xeric shrublands and the more southerly part by woodlands and scrub in a Mediterranean climate.<ref>Jiménez, Héctor E. and Armesto, Juan J. (December 1992) "Importance of the Soil Seed Bank of Disturbed Sites in Chilean Matorral in Early Secondary Succession" ''Journal of Vegetation Science'' 3(5): pp. 579-586, p. 579</ref> The species is usually found from sea level to {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}} but also up to {{convert|1600|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is thought to be sedentary.<ref name=Krabbe/>

==Behavior== ===Feeding===

The white-throated tapaculo's diet is almost exclusively arthropods. It forages mostly on the ground in dense cover.<ref name=Krabbe/>

===Breeding===

The white-throated tapaculo's nest is a cup made of soft grass built at the end of a tunnel up to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. Eggs are laid in September and October. Both the male and the female incubate the eggs and feed the nestlings.<ref name=Krabbe/>

===Vocalization===

The white-throated tapaculo sings from the ground or a low perch. The typical song is a series of "barking" notes falling in pitch [https://www.xeno-canto.org/494446]. The call is a harsh grunt that has been compared to a pig's [https://www.xeno-canto.org/60175].<ref name=Krabbe/>

==Status==

The IUCN has assessed the white-throated tapaculo as of Least Concern. It has a fairly large range that includes some protected areas. The population has not been quantified but the species is "fairly common" and their number is believed to be stable.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" /><ref name=Krabbe/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

white-throated tapaculo Category:Endemic birds of Chile white-throated tapaculo Category:Taxa named by Heinrich von Kittlitz Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Fauna of the Chilean Matorral