Undulated Antpitta

The Undulated Antpitta occurs along both slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes, with the nominate subspecies found from northern Ecuador into Peru and G. s. canicauda restricted to southwestern provinces like Loja. It is generally rare and highly elusive, inhabiting dense understory of humid montane forests typically between 1,800 and 3,000 meters, where it forages alone on the forest floor and is most often detected by its mournful, whistled song. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad Andean range and a population believed to be stable, though habitat fragmentation poses localized threats. Natural history observations highlight its cryptic plumage, terrestrial insectivory, and preference for steep, mossy ravines, while nesting behavior remains poorly documented.