Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Tapaculos no image yet Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Rhynocryptidae Genus Pteroptochos Scelorchilus Rhinocrypta Teledromas Liosceles Psilorhamphus Merulaxis Melanopareia Eugralla Myornis Scytalopus Acropternis The Tapaculos are a family of eight small passerine bird species found in South America. These are terrestrial species that fly only poorly on their short wings. They have strong legs, well-suited to their habitat of grassland or forest undergrowth. The tail is cocked and pointed towards the head, and apparently the word tapaculo derives from the phrase "cover your bottom" in a local language. While the majority of the family are small blackish or brown birds there are some larger and more colourful species. They are best located and identified by their vocalisations. They feed on insects, seeds and other soft plant material with their pointy bills, and will scratch on the ground like a pheasant. Most species lay two or three white eggs in a covered environment, whether it be a burrow, hole in a tree or domed nest. Species list: Family: Rhinocryptidae Genus Pteroptochos , the huet-huets Black-throated Huet-huet, Pteroptochos tarnii Chestnut-throated Huet-huet, Pteroptochos castaneus Genus Pteroptochos Moustached Turca, Pteroptochos megapodius Genus Scelorchilus White-throated Tapaculo, Scelorchilus albicollis Chucao Tapaculo, Scelorchilus rubecula Genus Rhinocrypta , the gallitos Crested Gallito, Rhinocrypta lanceolata Sandy Gallito, Teledromas fuscus Genus Liosceles Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Liosceles thoracicus Genus Melanopareia , the crescent-chests Collared Crescent-chest, Melanopareia torquata Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, Melanopareia maximiliani Elegant Crescent-chest, Melanopareia elegans Maranon Crescent-chest, Melanopareia maranonica Genus Psilorhamphus Spotted Bamboowren, Psilorhamphus guttatus Genus Merulaxis , the bristlefronts Slaty Bristlefront, Merulaxis ater Stresemann's Bristlefront, Merulaxis stresemanni Genus Eugralla Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, Eugralla paradoxa Genus Myornis Ash-colored Tapaculo, Myornis senilis Genus Scytalopus Unicolored Tapaculo, Scytalopus unicolor Blackish Tapaculo, Scytalopus latrans Trilling Tapaculo, Scytalopus parvirostris Large-footed Tapaculo, Scytalopus macropus Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Scytalopus femoralis Long-tailed Tapaculo, Scytalopus micropterus Bolivian Tapaculo, Scytalopus bolivianus White-crowned Tapaculo, Scytalopus atratus Perija Tapaculo, Scytalopus nigricans Santa Marta Tapaculo, Scytalopus sanctaemartae Pale-throated Tapaculo, Scytalopus panamensis Narino Tapaculo, Scytalopus vicinior Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Scytalopus argentifrons Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Scytalopus latebricola Merida Tapaculo, Scytalopus meridanus Colombian Tapaculo, Scytalopus infasciatus Caracas Tapaculo, Scytalopus caracae Spillman's Tapaculo, Scytalopus spillmanni Zimmer's Tapaculo, Scytalopus zimmeri Puna Tapaculo, Scytalopus simonsi Vilcabamba Tapaculo, Scytalopus urubambae Neblina Tapaculo, Scytalopus altirostris Ancash Tapaculo, Scytalopus affinis Paramo Tapaculo, Scytalopus canus Magellanic Tapaculo, Scytalopus magellanicus Matorral Tapaculo, Scytalopus griseicollis White-browed Tapaculo, Scytalopus superciliaris Dusky Tapaculo, Scytalopus fuscus Tschudi's Tapaculo, Scytalopus acutirostris Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Scytalopus speluncae Brasilia Tapaculo, Scytalopus novacapitalis Bahia Tapaculo, Scytalopus psychopompus Wetland Tapaculo, Scytalopus iraiensis White-breasted Tapaculo, Scytalopus indigoticus Diademed Tapaculo, Scytalopus schulenbergi Choco Tapaculo, Scytalopus chocoensis Ecuadorian Tapaculo, Scytalopus robbinsi Chusquea Tapaculo, Scytalopus parkeri Genus Acropternis Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis orthonyx This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.