Grallariidae – Antpittas

Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea ©Dr George Cruz Website

Grallariidae is a family of smallish passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America known as antpittas. They are between 10 and 20 cm in length, and are related to the antbirds, Thamnophilidae, and gnateaters, Conopophagidae. They were also formerly placed in the Formicariidae, but studies by Rice (2005) indicated a distinct family was supported. There are 1 large and three fairly small genera.

They are forest birds that tend to feed on insects at or near the ground since many are specialist ant eaters. Most are drab in appearance with shades of (rusty) brown, black, and white being their dominant tones. Compared to other birds that specialise in following ants, this family is the most tied to the ground. The long, powerful legs, which lend the birds a distinctive upright posture, and an essentially vestigial tail aid this lifestyle. This led to their common name although they are notrelated to true pittas.

They lay two or three eggs in a nest in a tree, both sexes incubating.

This newly created family of Antpittas was split from the formicariidae after DNA sequencing confirmed the re-ordering.

Species List

There are 53 species in this family which are:

Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera
Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea
Great Antpitta Grallaria excelsa
Variegated Antpitta Grallaria varia
Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni
Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis
Tachira Antpitta Grallaria chthonia
Plain-backed Antpitta Grallaria haplonota
Ochre-striped Antpitta Grallaria dignissima
Elusive Antpitta Grallaria eludens
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla
Watkins’s (Scrub) Antpitta Grallaria watkinsi
Santa Marta Antpitta Grallaria bangsi
Cundinamarca Antpitta Grallaria kaestneri
Stripe-headed Antpitta Grallaria andicolus
Grey-naped Antpitta Grallaria griseonucha
Bicolored Antpitta Grallaria rufocinerea
Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi
Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis
Pale-billed Antpitta Grallaria carrikeri
White-throated Antpitta Grallaria albigula
Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotincta
White-bellied Antpitta Grallaria hypoleuca
Rusty-tinged Antpitta Grallaria przewalskii
Bay Antpitta Grallaria capitalis
Red-and-white Antpitta Grallaria erythroleuca
Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula
Chestnut Antpitta Grallaria blakei
Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis
Brown-banded Antpitta Grallaria milleri
Rufous-faced Antpitta Grallaria erythrotis
Fenwick’s Antpitta Grallaria fenwickorum or Urrao Antpitta Grallaria urraoensis

Streak-chested Antpitta (Spectacled) Hylopezus perspicillatus
Spotted Antpitta Hylopezus macularius
Masked Antpitta Hylopezus auricularis
Thicket Antpitta Hylopezus dives
White-lored Antpitta Hylopezus fulviventris
Amazonian Antpitta Hylopezus berlepschi
White-browed Antpitta Hylopezus ochroleucus
Speckle-breasted Antpitta Hylopezus nattereri
Snethlage’s Antpitta Hylopezus paraensis
Alta Floresta Antpitta Hylopezus whittakeri

Thrush-like Antpitta Myrmothera campanisona
Tepui Antpitta (Brown-breasted) Myrmothera simplex

Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris
Scallop-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula loricata
Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata
Peruvian Antpitta Grallaricula peruviana
Ochre-fronted Antpitta Grallaricula ochraceifrons
Rusty-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula ferrugineipectus
Slaty-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana
Crescent-faced Antpitta Grallaricula lineifrons
Sucre Antpitta Grallaricula cumanensis

Species Links
  • Alta Floresta Antpitta Hylopezus whittakeri

    Species Account
    The Alta Floresta antpitta (Hylopezus whittakeri) is a species of antpitta of the Grallariidae family discovered in 2012.
  • Alta Floresta Antpitta Hylopezus whittakeri

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Amazonian Antpitta Hylopezus berlepschi

    IUCN Species Status
    This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation).
  • Amazonian Antpitta Hylopezus berlepschi

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Amazonian Antpitta Hylopezus berlepschi

    Species Account
    The Amazonian antpitta (Hylopezus berlepschi) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.
  • Amazonian Antpitta Hylopezus berlepschi

    Cornell Species Account
    The Amazonian Antpitta is widely distributed over southern Amazonia, from the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil to eastern Peru and northern Bolivia, and it inhabits the dense undergrowth of terra firme forest below approximately 700 m.
  • Bay Antpitta Grallaria capitalis

    Cornell Species Account
    The Bay Antpittia is a central Peruvian endemic, and is found only on the east slope of the Andes in the departments of Huánuco, Pasco and Junín. This species is fairly common and principally occurs at 1800-3000 m, although it occasionally is found as low as 1525 m.
  • Bay Antpitta Grallaria capitalis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Bay Antpitta Grallaria capitalis

    Species Account
    The bay antpitta (Grallaria capitalis) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.
  • Bicolored Antpitta Grallaria rufocinerea

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Bicolored Antpitta Grallaria rufocinerea

    Species Account
    The bicolored antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
  • Bicolored Antpitta Grallaria rufocinerea

    Cornell Species Account
    Long considered to be endemic to Colombia, a new population of Bicolored Antpitta recently was discovered in northeastern Ecuador. As the English name suggests, this antpitta basically is two-toned, rufous above and gray below, with a slightly brighter reddish head.
  • Bicolored Antpitta Grallaria rufocinerea

    IUCN Species Status
    16.5 cm. Medium-sized antpitta with grey underparts and rufous upperparts. Dark rufous-brown head, throat and upperparts. Dark grey chest to crissum. Black bill.
  • Brown-banded Antpitta Grallaria milleri

    Species Account
    The brown-banded antpitta (Grallaria milleri) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Colombia.
  • Brown-banded Antpitta Grallaria milleri

    Cornell Species Account
    Currently considered Vulnerable under IUCN criteria, Brown-banded Antpitta's known range is a tiny area within Colombia's Central Andes, a region that is subject to considerable habitat loss and degradation.
  • Brown-banded Antpitta Grallaria milleri

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Chestnut Antpitta Grallaria blakei

    Species Account
    The chestnut antpitta (Grallaria blakei) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.
  • Chestnut Antpitta Grallaria blakei

    Cornell Species Account
    Just one of several species of Grallaria named for keynote Neotropical ornithologists, the scientific name of the present species pays homage to Emmet Reid Blake. Discovered as recently as the 1980s, the Chestnut Antpitta is endemic to the east slope of the Andes in central and northern Peru, where the species is, at best, locally common at elevations between 1700 and 3100 m.
  • Chestnut Antpitta Grallaria blakei

    IUCN Species Status
    Grallaria blakei is very patchily distributed in the Andes of north and central Peru where it is generally uncommon (Ridgely and Tudor 1994). Disjunct populations occur in San Martín, Amazonas, Huánuco and Pasco (Ridgely and Tudor 1994, Hornbuckle 1999b).
  • Chestnut Antpitta Grallaria blakei

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla

    Species Account
    The chestnut-crowned antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest, which it has a much greater tolerance for than most antpittas. Usually this bird lives at elevations of 1,900 to 3,100 m.
  • Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla

    Cornell Species Account
    This strikingly plumaged antpitta is both easily identified and one of the most easily seen of an extremely wary and notoriously shy family of birds. Chestnut-crowned Antpitta ranges from northern Venezuela south to central Peru, and is subdivided into seven subspecies, which mainly differ in the details of their head patterns.
  • Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla

    IUCN Species Status
    The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
  • Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis

    Species Account
    The chestnut-naped antpitta (Grallaria nuchalis) is a species of bird tentatively placed in the family Grallariidae; it might belong to a more distinct lineage though.
  • Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis

    Cornell Species Account
    The Chestnut-naped Antpitta is a typical ground-dwelling Grallaria, although it sings from a low perch, and which strongly prefers bamboo thickets in humid montane forest at 1900 to 3150 m.
  • Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Crescent-faced Antpitta Grallaricula lineifrons

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

    Cornell Species Account
    Crescent-faced Antpitta is one of the most strikingly plumaged members of the genus,perhaps even of the entire family Grallariidae family. There is no recorded geographic variation within the limited range of this species. Adults are dark brown above with a slate-gray crown and nape, a bold white crescent in front of the eye, and densely streaked buff to whitish underparts.
  • Crescent-faced Antpitta Grallaricula lineifrons

    IUCN Species Status
    This species has a small range and numbers are likely to be declining owing to habitat loss. However, the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations. For these reasons, the species is classified as Near Threatened.
  • Crescent-faced Antpitta Grallaricula lineifrons

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Cundinamarca Antpitta Grallaria kaestneri

    Cornell Species Account
    Cundinamarca Antpitta was described little more than a decade ago and is known from only a few locations on the east slope of the East Andes in Colombia, all of them reasonably close to the country’s capital, Bogotá.
  • Cundinamarca Antpitta Grallaria kaestneri

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Elusive Antpitta Grallaria eludens

    Species Account
    The elusive antpitta (Grallaria eludens) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Brazil and Peru.
  • Elusive Antpitta Grallaria eludens

    Cornell Species Account
    The aptly named Elusive Antpitta is rare and local in terra firme and transitional forest south of the Amazon River in southeastern Peru and adjacent western Brazil. Elusive Antpitta is very closely related to Ochre-striped Antpitta (Grallaria dignissima) of northeastern Peru, southeastern Colombia, and eastern Ecuador.
  • Elusive Antpitta Grallaria eludens

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Fenwick's (Urrao) Antpitta Grallaria fenwickorum

    Species Account
    The Urrao antpitta or Fenwick's antpitta (Grallaria urraoensis or fenwickorum) is a highly threatened species of bird found in the understory of cloud forest in the Andean highlands of Colombia.
  • Fenwick's (Urrao) Antpitta Grallaria fenwickorum

    Species Account
    The Urrao antpitta or Fenwick's antpitta (Grallaria urraoensis or fenwickorum) is a highly threatened species of bird found in the understory of cloud forest in the Andean highlands of Colombia.
  • Fenwick's (Urrao) Antpitta Grallaria fenwickorum

    IUCN Species Status
    A new species of Grallaria antpitta has been described and named as G. fenwickorum and G. urraoensis in two separate papers by different authors (Barrera et al. 2010; Carantón-Ayala and Certuche-Cubillos 2010). Fenwickorum was recognised by BirdLife as the specific name before SACC voted to use urraoensis for this taxon; BirdLife will continue to use fenwickorum pending any ruling by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.
  • Fenwick's Antpitta Grallaria fenwickorum
    Urrao Antpitta Grallaria urraoensis

    Cornell Species Account
    Amid much controversy, the recently-described Urrao Antpitta already has been assigned two scientific names and at least three common names. It is a Colombian endemic, known only from a tiny area in the northern tip of the western Andes.
  • Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea

    IUCN Species Status
    26.5 cm. Huge antpitta with thick, heavy bill. Olive-brown above. Pale grey hindcrown and nape. Deep rusty sides of head and entire underparts, with black edged throat and breast feathers giving wavy, barred appearance.
  • Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea

    Cornell Species Account
    The aptly-named Giant Antpitta is a huge antpitta, rare and seldom seen until recently. It is found largely in Ecuador, but also occurs in southernmost Colombia. It is replaced farther north in the Andes of Venezuela by Great Antpitta (Grallaria excelsa). Recently this awesome antpitta became much easier to see in a spot close to Quito, Ecuador where an entrepreneurial local man (Angel Paz) habituated a pair of these antpittas to take worms from him, luring them out into the trail so that birders could see the bird.
  • Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea

    Species Account
    The giant antpitta (Grallaria gigantea) is a perching bird species in the antpitta family (Grallariidae).
  • Great Antpitta Grallaria excelsa

    Species Account
    The great antpitta (Grallaria excelsa) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
  • Great Antpitta Grallaria excelsa

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Great Antpitta Grallaria excelsa

    Cornell Species Account
    Great Antpitta is thought to form a superspecies with Giant Antpitta (Grallaria gigantea), which replaces it farther south in the Andes. The two are so closely related that some authors believe them to be conspecific or, alternatively, that at least one subspecies of Giant Antpitta is actually better placed with Great Antpitta.
  • Grey-naped Antpitta Grallaria griseonucha

    Species Account
    The grey-naped antpitta (Grallaria griseonucha) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Venezuela.
  • Grey-naped Antpitta Grallaria griseonucha

    IUCN Species Status
    Although this species may have a small range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation).
  • Grey-naped Antpitta Grallaria griseonucha

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Grey-naped Antpitta Grallaria griseonucha

    Cornell Species Account
    Gray-naped Antpitta is endemic to the Andes of Venezuela, where it is a shy and poorly known bird of dense forest undergrowth, especially where there is bamboo. Despite its small range, two subspecies are recognized...
  • Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata

    IUCN Species Status
    10 cm. Small, plump antpitta with bright orange bill. Bright orange-rufous head and throat. Olive-brown above. Grey below with narrow white crescent across chest. White belly and lower breast. Voice Unknown.
  • Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata

    Cornell Species Account
    This beautiful and diminutive antpitta is automatically immediately recognized within its range by the bright orange-rufous head and throat; the rest of the bird’s plumage is a mix of brown and gray, with a small white crescent on the lower throat. Hooded Antpitta is virtually endemic to Colombia, only occurring outside its borders in extreme western Venezuela.
  • Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata

    Species Account
    The hooded antpitta (Grallaricula cucullata) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
  • Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi

    Cornell Species Account
    Jocotoco Antpitta is a striking species of antpitta, not only because of its massive size, but also because of the broad snowy white malar stripe that contrasts sharply with the glossy black crown.
  • Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi

    IUCN Species Status
    22 cm. Remarkably plumaged, large antpitta. Black crown. Dark grey nape and much of face, except bold white moustachial. Grey-brown upperparts, with more rusty-tinged wings and dark-streaked mantle and scapulars. Whitish grey underparts. Grey legs and all-black, deep-based bill. Reddish irides.
  • Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi

    Species Account
    The jocotoco antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi) is an endangered antpitta, a bird from Ecuador and Peru. It was discovered in 1997, and scientifically described in 1999.
  • Masked Antpitta Hylopezus auricularis

    Image
    (somewhat obscured) Image
  • Masked Antpitta Hylopezus auricularis

    Species Account
    The masked antpitta (Hylopezus auricularis) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Bolivia.
  • Masked Antpitta Hylopezus auricularis

    Cornell Species Account
    Formerly treated as a subspecies of Spotted Antpitta (Hylopezus macularius), Masked Antpitta is a poorly known, and apparently genuinely rare, bird that is endemic to northern Bolivia...
  • Masked Antpitta Hylopezus auricularis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni

    IUCN Species Status
    18 cm. Medium to large antpitta with white malar stripe. Dark rufescent-brown above. Slaty-grey crown and nape. Dark brown sides of head. Broad, white malar narrowly scaled black. Russet throat bordered by white chest-band. Olive-brown breast with few narrow white streaks. Buffy-white belly. Cinnamon washed flanks and undertail-coverts
  • Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni

    Cornell Species Account
    Named in honor of Arthur Augustus Allen, an American ornithologist and inspiring teacher at Cornell University, the Moustached Antpitta is a rare and little-known antpitta of the tropical Andes. Currently listed as Vulnerable by BirdLife International, this is a medium to large antpitta with a broad white malar stripe, slate-gray crown and nape, a russet-colored throat bordered by a white chest-band, and cinnamon-washed flanks and undertail coverts.
  • Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni

    Species Account
    The moustached antpitta (Grallaria alleni) is a species of bird tentatively placed in the family Grallariidae; it might belong to a more distinct lineage though.
  • Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris

    Species Account
    The ochre-breasted antpitta (Grallaricula flavirostris) is a species of bird tentatively placed in the family Grallariidae; it might belong to a more distinct lineage though.
  • Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris

    Cornell Species Account
    This tiny antpitta inhabits the undergrowth of wet montane forest at elevations of 500–2750 m, from Costa Rica south over both slopes of the Andes, as far as southern Ecuador in the west, and to central Bolivia on the east slope. Considerable morphological variation has led to the description of eight subspecies, which vary quite dramatically in underparts coloration and pattern, and to a lesser extent in face pattern, but to date the species’ vocalizations are so incompletely known that it is impossible to draw any conclusions as to whether more than one species is involved.
  • Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Ochre-fronted Antpitta Grallaricula ochraceifrons

    Species Account
    The ochre-fronted antpitta (Grallaricula ochraceifrons) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.
  • Ochre-fronted Antpitta Grallaricula ochraceifrons

    Cornell Species Account
    Listed by BirdLife International as Endangered, Ochre-fronted Antpitta is predominantly brown, with an ochraceous-buff forecrown and eye-ring (in males), and heavily black-streaked white underparts, with buff-tinged flanks. The species was discovered as recently as the mid 1970s, and still is known from just two localities on isolated ridges of the east Andes, in the departments of Amazonas and San Martín, in northern Peru south of the Marañón Valley.
  • Ochre-fronted Antpitta Grallaricula ochraceifrons

    IUCN Species Status
    10.5 cm. Small, predominantly brown antpitta. Ochraceous-buff forecrown and eye-ring are most obvious features of male (former lacking in female). Otherwise largely brown upperparts, and heavily black-streaked white underparts, with buff-tinged flanks
  • Ochre-fronted Antpitta Grallaricula ochraceifrons

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Ochre-striped Antpitta Grallaria dignissima

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Ochre-striped Antpitta Grallaria dignissima

    Species Account
  • Ochre-striped Antpitta Grallaria dignissima

    Cornell Species Account
    Ochre-striped Antpitta is one of only two truly lowland species of Grallaria antpittas; it inhabits low lying swampy areas and stream banks in terra firme forest of the western Amazon, in eastern Ecuador, northeastern Peru, and extreme southern Colombia.
  • Ochre-striped Antpitta Grallaria dignissima

    Species Account
    The ochre-striped antpitta (Grallaria dignissima) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Ecuador, Peru and southern Colombia.
  • Pale-billed Antpitta Grallaria carrikeri

    Species Account
    The pale-billed antpitta (Grallaria carrikeri) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to highland forests in the Andes of northern Peru.
  • Pale-billed Antpitta Grallaria carrikeri

    Cornell Species Account
    High on the ‘wish list’ of many Neotropical birders is an encounter with the comparatively recently described Pale-billed Antpitta. This antpitta is a stunning, uncommon and difficult-to-see Peruvian endemic, which is found only in the north central Andes at 2350-2900 m
  • Pale-billed Antpitta Grallaria carrikeri

    IUCN Species Status
    Grallaria carrikeri is endemic to Peru, where it occurs on the east side of the Andes, south and east of the río Marañón, from central Amazonas to southern La Libertad (del Hoyo et al. 2003, Schulenberg et al. 2007). It is described as uncommon to fairly common...
  • Pale-billed Antpitta Grallaria carrikeri

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Peruvian Antpitta Grallaricula peruviana

    Species Account
    The Peruvian antpitta (Grallaricula peruviana) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Ecuador and northern Peru.
  • Peruvian Antpitta Grallaricula peruviana

    Cornell Species Account
    Like other Grallaricula, the Peruvian Antpitta is a poorly known inhabitant of Andean forests under intense pressures from human alterations. It is rather strongly patterned for this genus, with a uniformly brown back and distinctive markings on the face and breast.
  • Peruvian Antpitta Grallaricula peruviana

    IUCN Species Status
    This species has a small range and numbers are suspected to be declining moderately rapidly owing to habitat loss. However, the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations. For these reasons, the species is classified as Near Threatened.
  • Peruvian Antpitta Grallaricula peruviana

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Plain-backed Antpitta Grallaria haplonota

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Plain-backed Antpitta Grallaria haplonota

    Species Account
    The plain-backed antpitta (Grallaria haplonota) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in the Andes of Ecuador and the Venezuelan Coastal Range. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.
  • Plain-backed Antpitta Grallaria haplonota

    Cornell Species Account
    Plain-backed Antpitta occurs, somewhat discontinuously, from northeastern Venezuela south to extreme northern Peru, and in the experience of many field observers is one of the hardest of the Grallariidae to actually catch a glimpse of.
  • Red-and-white Antpitta Grallaria erythroleuca

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Red-and-white Antpitta Grallaria erythroleuca

    Species Account
    The red-and-white antpitta (Grallaria erythroleuca) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.
  • Red-and-white Antpitta Grallaria erythroleuca

    IUCN Species Status
    Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion.
  • Red-and-white Antpitta Grallaria erythroleuca

    Cornell Species Account
    Endemic to a small area of southcentral Peru, in the Vilcabamba and Vilcanota mountains, the Red-and-white Antpitta is, as its name suggests, principally rufous and white, becoming rather browner over the back. In shape and structure, it is a typical member of the genus Grallaria.
  • Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula

    Species Account
    The rufous antpitta (Grallaria rufula) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family.
  • Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula

    Cornell Species Account
    The Rufous Antpitta is widely distributed, found from western Venezuela south to central Bolivia.
  • Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Rufous-faced Antpitta Grallaria erythrotis

    Species Account
    he rufous-faced antpitta (Grallaria erythrotis) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Bolivia.
  • Rufous-faced Antpitta Grallaria erythrotis

    Cornell Species Account
    Rufous-faced Antpitta is a medium sized Grallaria that is confined to humid montane forests of northern and central Bolivia.
  • Rufous-faced Antpitta Grallaria erythrotis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Rusty-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula ferrugineipectus

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Rusty-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula ferrugineipectus

    Cornell Species Account
    Rusty-breasted Antpitta is distributed discontinuously through the Andes from northern and western Venezuela south to western Bolivia. Like other members of the genus Grallaricula, this species is a difficult bird to observe, even with playback, as these tiny birds can be incredibly difficult to spot as they perch low and inconspicuously in the undergrowth.
  • Rusty-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula ferrugineipectus

    Species Account
    The rusty-breasted antpitta (Grallaricula ferrugineipectus) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.
  • Rusty-tinged Antpitta Grallaria przewalskii

    Species Account
    The rusty-tinged antpitta (Grallaria przewalskii) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.
  • Rusty-tinged Antpitta Grallaria przewalskii

    Cornell Species Account
    Rusty-tinged Antpitta replaces White-bellied Antpitta (Grallaria hypoleuca) south of the Río Marañón in northern Peru. This is a range-restricted species, endemic to Peru, where its range spans the eastern Andes in just three departments
  • Rusty-tinged Antpitta Grallaria przewalskii

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Santa Marta Antpitta Grallaria bangsi

    Species Account
    The Santa Marta antpitta (Grallaria bangsi) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Colombia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
  • Santa Marta Antpitta Grallaria bangsi

    Cornell Species Account
    Santa Marta Antpitta is confined to the endemic hotspot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, where its voice is a common sound of humid cloud, predominantly between 1600 m and 2400 m.
  • Santa Marta Antpitta Grallaria bangsi

    IUCN Species Status
    18 cm. Large, rather poorly-marked antpitta. Brown above with white lores and eyering. Underparts white streaked brown, except for bright ochraceous buff throat, brownish flanks (streaked white) and cinnamon buff underwing coverts.
  • Santa Marta Antpitta Grallaria bangsi

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis

    Species Account
    The scaled antpitta (Grallaria guatimalensis) is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae.
  • Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis

    Cornell Species Account
    Scaled Antpitta has a wide geographic range, from southern Mexico to central Bolivia, with a disjunct population in the pantepui region of southernmost Venezuela and adjacent northern Brazil and western Guyana. Throughout its wide range, this species rarely is anything other than a very difficult bird to actually see.
  • Scallop-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula loricata

    Species Account
    The Scallop-breasted Antpitta (Grallaricula loricata) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Venezuela.
  • Scallop-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula loricata

    Cornell Species Account
    Endemic to the north coastal mountains of Venezuela, the attractive and boldly-patterned Scallop-breasted Antpitta is infrequently seen and is not well studied. It is a range-restricted species confined to the northern Venezuelan mountains, and is considered Near Threatened.
  • Scallop-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula loricata

    IUCN Species Status
    This species has a small range and numbers are likely to be declining owing to habitat loss. However, the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations. For these reasons, the species is classified as Near Threatened.
  • Scallop-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula loricata

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Slaty-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana

    Species Account
    The slaty-crowned antpitta (Grallaricula nana) is a species of bird tentatively placed in the family Grallariidae; it might belong to a more distinct lineage though.
  • Slaty-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana

    Cornell Species Account
    Slate-crowned Antpitta is one of the most widespread species of Grallaricula, inhabiting montane areas from north coastal Venezuela south and west, discontinuously, to northernmost Peru, as well as disjunctly in southeastern Venezuela and adjacent western Guyana.
  • Slaty-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Snethlage's Antpitta Hylopezus paraensis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Snethlage's Antpitta Hylopezus paraensis

    Species Account
    The Snethlage's antpitta (Hylopezus paraensis) is a species of antpitta in the Grallariidae family. It was formerly considered conspecific with the spotted antpitta.
  • Speckle-breasted Antpitta Hylopezus nattereri

    Species Account
    The speckle-breasted antpitta (Hylopezus nattereri) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
  • Speckle-breasted Antpitta Hylopezus nattereri

    Cornell Species Account
    The southeastern representative of the genus Hylopezus is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil, adjacent easternmost Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Like most antpittas, the Speckle-breasted Antpitta is usually first located by virtue of its mildly ‘haunting’ song, a short, evenly paced series of whistled notes lasting approximately 2.5 seconds...
  • Spotted Antpitta Hylopezus macularius

    Species Account
    The spotted antpitta (Hylopezus macularius) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
  • Spotted Antpitta Hylopezus macularius

    Cornell Species Account
    The Spotted Antpitta, as currently constituted, is represented by three subspecies, which echo the ‘breaks’ in the species’ range only to a limited extent, and are not especially well differentiated morphologically. However, the distinctly more obvious differences in their vocalizations hints at the presence of more than one species.
  • Spotted Antpitta Hylopezus macularius

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Streak-chested Antpitta (Spectacled) Hylopezus perspicillatus

    Species Account
    The streak-chested antpitta or spectacled antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
  • Streak-chested Antpitta (Spectacled) Hylopezus perspicillatus

    Cornell Species Account
    Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus) is a terrestrial insectivorous bird species found in lowland tropical forests from eastern Honduras south to northwestern Ecuador. The Spanish common name is Tororoi ("antpitta") pechilistado (literally "streak-chested"). The generic name is derived from the Greek hylo ("wood" or "matter") and the Latin pez ("foot" or "bottom").
  • Streak-chested Antpitta (Spectacled) Hylopezus perspicillatus

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Stripe-headed Antpitta Grallaria andicolus

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Stripe-headed Antpitta Grallaria andicolus

    Cornell Species Account
    The Stripe-headed Antpitta occurs from northern Peru south to northwestern Bolivia. Principally brown above, the underparts and face are boldly streaked and spotted, and there are some white shaft streaks evident over the mantle in northern populations.
  • Stripe-headed Antpitta Grallaria andicolus

    Species Account
    The stripe-headed antpitta (Grallaria andicolus) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Peru and western Bolivia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
  • Sucre Antpitta Grallaricula cumanensis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Sucre Antpitta Grallaricula cumanensis

    Species Account
    The Sucre antpitta (Grallaricula cumanensis) is a species of bird placed in the family Grallariidae.
  • Sucre Antpitta Grallaricula cumanensis

    Cornell Species Account
    Until very recently, Sucre Antpitta was universally treated as a subspecies of the wide-ranging Slate-crowned Antpitta (Grallaricula nana). A recent morphological and vocal study, however, emphasized the strong geographical variation evident within this species complex, and led to its division into two species.
  • Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis

    Species Account
    The tawny antpitta (Grallaria quitensis) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family.
  • Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis

    Cornell Species Account
    Among a family of notoriously skulking species, Tawny Antpitta is the veritable "exception that proves the rule"! This dull plumaged species is found in the high Andes from northern Colombia to northern Peru, where it is fairly common in elfin forest and adjacent páramos at elevations above 2200 m, generally above 2800 m.
  • Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Tepui Antpitta (Brown-breasted) Myrmothera simplex

    Species Account
    The tepui antpitta or brown-breasted antpitta (Myrmothera simplex) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family.
  • Tepui Antpitta (Brown-breasted) Myrmothera simplex

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Tepui Antpitta (Brown-breasted) Myrmothera simplex

    Cornell Species Account
    Despite its relatively tiny range, in southern Venezuela and immediately adjacent parts of northernmost Brazil and westernmost Guyana, four subspecies of the Tepui Antpitta are recognised, although they appear to differ rather little in plumage and apparently not at all in their vocalizations.
  • Thicket Antpitta Hylopezus dives

    Cornell Species Account
    Thicket Antpitta is found from eastern Honduras, discontinuously, southward to southwestern Colombia, and includes two Central American and one South American subspecies. Previously Thicket Antpitta was considered conspecific with White-lored Antpitta (Hylopezus fulviventris), which is an exclusively Amazonian species.
  • Thicket Antpitta Hylopezus dives

    Species Account
    The thicket antpitta (Hylopezus dives) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and perhaps Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.
  • Thrush-like Antpitta Myrmothera campanisona

    Cornell Species Account
    Five subspecies of the widely distributed, and generally fairly common, Thrush-like Antpitta are generally recognized, but at least one of these is probably meritorious of being elevated to species level, principally based on distinct vocal differences.
  • Thrush-like Antpitta Myrmothera campanisona

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Thrush-like Antpitta Myrmothera campanisona

    Species Account
    The thrush-like antpitta (Myrmothera campanisona) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family...
  • Táchira Antpitta Grallaria chthonia

    Species Account
    The Táchira antpitta (Grallaria chthonia) is a cryptical bird species. It is provisionally placed in the family Grallariidae, pending revision of this group. This species was only sighted and collected between 1955 and 1956, and may be extinct.
  • Táchira Antpitta Grallaria chthonia

    Cornell Species Account
    This incredibly poorly known species is documented solely from four specimens, all of which were taken at the same locality in southern Táchira, in westernmost Venezuela, in the mid-1950s. It has not been found since, despite occasional searches, and in the meantime deforestation has been rampant in this region.
  • Táchira Antpitta Grallaria chthonia

    IUCN Species Status
    There have been no records of this species since 1956, and, although it may persist within a large national park, it probably has a tiny population which is likely to be declining owing to ongoing forest loss in the region (Collar et al. 1992). For these reasons it qualifies as Critically Endangered.
  • Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera

    Species Account
    The undulated antpitta (Grallaria squamigera) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family.
  • Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera

    Cornell Species Account
    A large-sized Grallariidae of the Andes, where it occurs from southwest Venezuela south to central Bolivia, the Undulated Antpitta can be devilishly difficult to see, in part due to its ventriloquial vocalizations, despite being at least locally quite common.
  • Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Variegated Antpitta Grallaria varia

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Variegated Antpitta Grallaria varia

    Species Account
    The variegated antpitta (Grallaria varia) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, the Guianas and the northern Amazon Basin. Variegated antpitta is found in the Guianas and Venezuela to the west; in the Amazon Basin, it is found in the downstream half of the Basin, also the Atlantic outlet region to the southeast, of the neighboring Tocantins-Araguaia River drainage.
  • Variegated Antpitta Grallaria varia

    Cornell Species Account
    Variegated Antpitta is among the larger and more robust members of the genus Grallaria. It has a brownish back, slate gray crown, pale lores, and a prominent white or buffy submoustachial stripe. The pattern of the underparts is geographically variable, ranging from finely barred to streaked.
  • Watkins's (Scrub) Antpitta Grallaria watkinsi

    Species Account
    The Watkins's antpitta or scrub antpitta (Grallaria watkinsi) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
  • Watkins's (Scrub) Antpitta Grallaria watkinsi

    Cornell Species Account
    Watkins's Antpitta is a shy resident of dry forest and secondary scrub, with a very restricted distribution in the lowlands of southwest Ecuador and northwest Peru. This species is reclusive, but can be very vocal and is heard more often than seen. Indeed the best way to locate a Watkins's Antpitta is to listen for the distinctive song, which consists of several short, hollow, whistled notes that descend in pitch, followed by a rising hollow whistle.
  • Watkins's (Scrub) Antpitta Grallaria watkinsi

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • White-bellied Antpitta Grallaria hypoleuca

    Species Account
    The white-bellied antpitta (Grallaria hypoleuca) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador and far northern Peru.
  • White-bellied Antpitta Grallaria hypoleuca

    Cornell Species Account
    Formerly, White-bellied Antpitta often was often classified as conspecific with Yellow-breasted Antpitta (Grallaria flavotincta); the two species occur on opposite sides of the Andes, but are similarly plumaged, except for the obvious differences in underparts coloration.
  • White-bellied Antpitta Grallaria hypoleuca

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • White-browed Antpitta Hylopezus ochroleucus

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • White-browed Antpitta Hylopezus ochroleucus

    Cornell Species Account
    Until recently, White-browed Antpitta still was considered conspecific with Speckle-breasted Antpitta (Hylopezus nattereri) of the southern Atlantic Forest, but it now is separated on the basis of its strikingly different plumage, especially the white supercilium, and vocalizations, as well as its quite different habitat preferences.
  • White-browed Antpitta Hylopezus ochroleucus

    Species Account
    The white-browed antpitta (Hylopezus ochroleucus) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.
  • White-lored Antpitta Hylopezus fulviventris

    Species Account
    The white-lored antpitta or fulvous-bellied antpitta (Hylopezus fulviventris) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.
  • White-lored Antpitta Hylopezus fulviventris

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • White-throated Antpitta Grallaria albigula

    Species Account
    The white-throated antpitta (Grallaria albigula) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
  • White-throated Antpitta Grallaria albigula

    Cornell Species Account
    he White-throated Antpitta has the southernmost range in the Andes of its genus. It occurs, discontinuously, from southeastern Peru south as far as to northwestern Argentina.
  • White-throated Antpitta Grallaria albigula

    IUCN Species Status
    The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'uncommon' (Stotz et al. 1996).
  • White-throated Antpitta Grallaria albigula

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
  • Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotincta

    Species Account
    The yellow-breasted antpitta (Grallaria flavotincta) is a species of bird in the Grallariidae family.
  • Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotincta

    Cornell Species Account
    This rather simply, yet attractively plumaged antpitta is uniform warm chestnut or rufous-brown above, with pale yellow underparts. Yellow-breasted Antpitta can appear bold and confident, but like most antpittas it is not easily seen, even when using playback or whistled imitations of its song.
  • Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotincta

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map
Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 53

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