Tawny Antpitta

The Tawny Antpitta is found along the spine of the Ecuadorian Andes, from northern highland provinces southward into extreme northern Peru, where it inhabits páramo grasslands, elfin forest edges, and swampy clearings typically between 3,000 and 4,000 meters. It is locally common in suitable habitat, often seen hopping on the ground or heard delivering its mournful, whistled song from dense cover, especially near lakeshores and Polylepis groves. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad range and a population that, while slowly declining due to habitat degradation, remains stable overall. Natural history observations highlight its terrestrial insectivory, cryptic plumage, and preference for semi-open high-altitude habitats, though its breeding biology remains poorly documented.