Species profile
About this species
The Bicolored Antpitta is a small, plump ground-dwelling bird found in the Andean cloud forests of Colombia & Ecuador. It has distinctive rufous-brown upperparts contrasting with a pale grey or whitish underside, giving it its common name. Like other antpittas, it moves furtively through dense undergrowth, making it notoriously difficult to observe.
Dense montane cloud forest understorey in the Andes, typically between 1800 & 3000 metres elevation, where it forages on the ground among moss-covered roots, leaf litter & dense ferns in Colombia & Ecuador.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Bicolored Antpitta with us in Colombia.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning hours just after dawn are best, when the bird is most active & vocal. The dry season months between December & March generally offer clearer forest conditions & more predictable bird activity in the Andean cloud forest zones.
Position yourself quietly near known feeding areas or worm-feeding stations, as antpittas can be drawn out with patience & habituation programmes. Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/500s to freeze any sudden movements in the low-light forest understorey. A long lens of 400mm or more allows you to maintain distance & avoid flushing the bird from its exposed perch.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Bicolored Antpitta
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.