A typical Tapaculo is always hiding so most of the time you can hear them over-and-over but never see more than a crawling shadow at the bottom of the bushes.
The Nariño Tapaculo has eluded me until I finally was able to lure him out while I called (playback) from my car. It seems that some birds are not as afraid of the cars as they are of humans. This bird jumped out of the shadows to call back and claim his territory like a brave little soldier.
I was able to shoot a few pictures but the light was very bad since it was late afternoon and raining on the EcoRoute going from San Tadeo towards Bellavista.
This bird seems a lot more attractive in real life than the typical drawings:
Nariño Tapaculo – Scytalopus vicinior
Renato was born in Quito, Ecuador and quickly flew to the USA to learn all about engineering and climbing company ladders. After getting his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota he worked in the Standard-American-Rat-Race-Company for fifteen years. After climbing the ladder to where he could no longer see the ground, he decided to jump off the ladder and migrate south like all normal birds do. To his surprise home did not look like it did when he left as a young fledgling; the towns were bigger, most of his friends had nests of their own, and the countryside was changed. Shocked by all the change he searched for a new life and a new wife. He stumbled across a vivacious young chick who would accompany him inside a volcanic crater to set up a love nest. So, after eight years of nesting inside the crater a new love for nature and birds has sprung a career in environmental conservation and birding tours. Finally this bird has come home to roost!
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