Bicolored Antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea), family Grallariidae, order Passeriformes, Colombia

This species was once considered a subspecies or population of the Rufous Antpitta, which has now been separated into 13 species.

Chestnut-naped antpitta (Grallaria nuchalis ruficeps) Las Tangaras

upon initially seeing this thing i went "oh my god" aloud. this is the Chami antpitta. named for the Emberá-Chamí, an Indigenous community of the western side of the Colombian Andes. which is also where this little bird lives. mainly a terrestrial bird, as you might have guessed by its diminutive tail and very much not diminutive legs. indeed, antpittas' family name, Grallaridae, comes from the Latin for "stilt-walker". bounds along the forest floor in search of insects, often tossing leaf litter aside in an effort to reveal anything that might be hiding underneath.

generally an extremely sneaky bird; formerly, it was under the species umbrella of "rufous antpitta" along with several other birds, which ultimately turned out to be less related than was previously thought. the majority of antpittas are unfortunately little known, in fact, due to their stealth and speed. eyewitness reports allege that antpitta chicks will feign death upon being discovered by a potential predator.

there's a snippet of footage of a pair of Chami antpittas possibly perfoming some sort of communication by opening and closing their wings; whether this is a threat, a greeting, or even communication at all is unknown. however, the one performing it is fed a small worm by the other. hell if i know. a juvenile signalling location to their parent? simply stretching or shedding heat? this piece's already long enough.

23 May 2026

Bicolored Antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea), family Grallariidae, order Passeriformes, Colombia

This species was once considered a subspecies or population of the Rufous Antpitta, which has now been separated into 13 species.