Photo: Biodiversity Heritage Library / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magellanic Tapaculo
Scytalopus magellanicus
Magellanic Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magellanic Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus) is a member of the Rhinocryptidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 13.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos
- Genus Scytalopus
- Species magellanicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magellanic Tapaculo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Magellanic Tapaculo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Magellanic Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus) is a member of the Rhinocryptidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA c, s Chile and w Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.7 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 3.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 454,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magellanic Tapaculo?
The Magellanic Tapaculo is a very small bird that weighs around 13.7 g.
Where does the Magellanic Tapaculo live?
The Magellanic Tapaculo is found across South America with a range covering SA c, s Chile and w Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Magellanic Tapaculo belong to?
The Magellanic Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus) belongs to the Rhinocryptidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Magellanic Tapaculo eat?
The Magellanic Tapaculo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Magellanic Tapaculo migrate?
The Magellanic Tapaculo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Magellanic Tapaculo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Magellanic Tapaculo make?
1 real field recording of the Magellanic Tapaculo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Magellanic Tapaculo's range?
The Magellanic Tapaculo has a mapped global range of about 454,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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