Santa Marta antpitta  (Grallaria bangsi)

The Santa Marta antpitta is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

The secretive and rarely seen Santa Marta antpitta (Grallaria bangsi) has a chunky, rounded body and very long legs. The plumage on the upperparts is rather dull olive-brown, with white streaks on the flanks, and the white underparts are streaked with brown (2). The Santa Marta antpitta is the only antpitta within its range that has streaking (3). The wings and very short tail are lighter brown, and it has a distinctive orange throat and white ring around each eye (2) (3).

More often heard than seen, the Santa Marta antpitta has a hollow, far-carrying call that sounds like ‘whow-whoit’ (3)

The Santa Marta antpitta is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains on the north-east coast of Colombia (2) (4).

Humid montane forest is the favoured habitat of the Santa Marta antpitta, where it occurs on the ground and in the lower levels of the forest. It is most commonly seen at elevations between 1,600 and 2,400 metres, but can be found as low as 1,200 metres (2) (4).

Being mainly terrestrial, the Santa Marta antpitta is usually seen hopping along the ground, occasionally perching on lower branches. It is seemingly less shy than other antpittas, sometimes feeding in clearings, open spaces and along the edge of roads and tracks, especially in early morning (2) (4).

Very little is known about this particular species’ diet; however, antpittas typically feed on various small insects and larvae (2).

Information on the Santa Marta antpitta’s breeding biology is similarly scant. However, females with juveniles have been seen in July (2).

Extensive deforestation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, due to logging, burning and illegal marijuana plantations, has destroyed around 51 percent of this species’ habitat (4). As a result of this habitat destruction, numbers of the Santa Marta antpitta are thought to be rapidly declining (4). 

At present the Santa Marta antpitta occurs within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park (4), although this area is still subject to habitat destruction (5).

There are currently no specific conservation measures in place for the Santa Marta antpitta, but non-governmental organisations are working to conserve habitat in the region (5) (6). 

Learn more about conservation of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta:

• Fundación Pro-Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Spanish):
  http://www.prosierra.org/

More information on this bird and other bird species:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org