Photo: Nick Athanas / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Zimmer’s Tapaculo
Scytalopus zimmeri
Zimmer's Tapaculo (Scytalopus zimmeri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
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The Zimmer’s Tapaculo (Scytalopus zimmeri) is a member of the Rhinocryptidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 15.9 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 zimmeri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo (Scytalopus zimmeri) is a member of the Rhinocryptidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Bolivia and nw Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 3.3 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 53,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Zimmer’s Tapaculo?
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo is a small bird that weighs around 15.9 g.
Where does the Zimmer’s Tapaculo live?
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo is found across South America with a range covering SA s Bolivia and nw Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Zimmer’s Tapaculo belong to?
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo (Scytalopus zimmeri) belongs to the Rhinocryptidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Zimmer’s Tapaculo eat?
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Zimmer’s Tapaculo migrate?
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Zimmer’s 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 Zimmer’s Tapaculo make?
1 real field recording of the Zimmer’s Tapaculo — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Zimmer’s Tapaculo's range?
The Zimmer’s Tapaculo has a mapped global range of about 53,000 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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