Scelorchilus rubecula
Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The chucao tapaculo (Scelorchilus rubecula) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is found in central Chile and adjacent Argentina; it has also been recorded in Chile's Magallanes Province. The chucao tapaculo has two subspecies. The nominate Scelorchilus rubecula rubecula is primarily found in central Chile from the Biobío Region south to the Aysén Region and the adjoining parts of Argentina. It has occasionally been recorded further north and once in the far southern Magallanes Province. The other subspecies, S. r. mochae, is found only on Mocha Island off the Chilean coast.
The chucao tapaculo is 18.5 to 19 cm (7.3 to 7.5 in) long. Three specimens of unknown sex weighed 42.6 to 45.4 g (1.50 to 1.60 oz) and a single male specimen weighed 53.7 g (1.89 oz). The adult is dusky brown above; much of the face and the throat and upper breast are rufous. The rest of the breast is dark gray with white bars and the flanks and vent are reddish brown to olive brown.
The chucao tapaculo occurs from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) elevation. Its habitat is temperate and humid forests. It is typically... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 2 | Nahuel Huapi National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Chucao Tapaculo sighting in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park on a given day, based on 506 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 70 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February, October and December
In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Chucao Tapaculo in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park on a given day, against about 50% in July and August, the lowest months. Those are among Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park's driest months, with about 150 mm of rain a month against 490 mm in June.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Chucao Tapaculo sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Chucao Tapaculo sightings, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park has the highest daily chance: about 70%. Next come Nahuel Huapi National Park (Argentina, about 40%).
Same family: Rhinocryptidae
The closest relatives of the Chucao Tapaculo that you can see in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (family Rhinocryptidae, Tapaculos) are Magellanic Tapaculo (about 30%), Black-throated Huet-huet (about 30%) and Ochre-flanked Tapaculo (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Chucao Tapaculo is recorded against all the birds logged in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (506 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
