Scaled Antpitta, grallaria guatimalensis

URBAN BIRDS OF THE PARKS, GARDENS, AND SOURROUNDING AREAS OF LOJA CITY ECUADOR. BOOK WITH 44 COMMON SPECIES. ILLUSTRATED BY PABLO ANDRADE. WORK SUPPORTED BY JAN HINLOOPEN

Distribution

Scaled Antpitta, grallaria guatimalensis.- On or near ground inside humid forest and woodland in lowlands and foothills of east and west.

Rarely this bird has been founded in the city of Loja on the streets, parks, and even on terraces of houses; this strange phenomenon it seems occurs according our observations on windy seasons of august, september, and probably very early in the dark. For some reason little known this bird comes to the city, maybe blow over or for lack of habitat. The truth is that this bird is founded in the main streets of the city every year very early in the morning; since the bird it does not flight high, just only short distances and low, it is persecuted for people and sometimes trapped with a final nothing good, since it can not survive. In spite this bird of terrestrial habits does not flight long distance s and high, It seems that in some circunstances not known leverages strong winds and flight high and long since even has been founded in high terraces of houses

It seems this bird flight from the east foothill (on the way loja Zamora) and try to cross to the west foothill.

Scaled Antpitta, grallaria guatimalensis

Scaled Antpitta Gralaria guatimalensis

Description . 16 cm

Bill blackish above. grayish below; legs grayish pink. Above olive brown with grayer crown and nape, feathers edged black imparting a scaly look ( obvious in fresh plumage, at other times less so); lores whitish. Throat and chest brownish olive with semiconcealed white crescent across upper chest and buffyish to whitish malar stripe; underparts rich rufous to tawny-buff. Some individuals show white streaking on breast. Scaled Antpitta, grallaria guatimalensis.

Habits.

Shy, secretive, and hard to see. Generally found singly, hopping quickly on forest floor, pausing to flick aside leaves with bill and to probe into moist soil. Soon after dawn one may emerge to feed along damp trails or even at edge of of little-traveled roads. Heard more often than seen.