About Grallaricula lineifrons (Chapman, 1924)
Grallaricula lineifrons, commonly known as the crescent-faced antpitta, is a species of very small Andean antpitta in the Grallaricula genus. Most Grallaricula antpittas are found mostly in low dense vegetation such as treefall gaps, stream edges, and bamboo thickets. The crescent-faced antpitta measures 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 17 to 22 g (0.60 to 0.78 oz). The sexes share identical plumage. Adults have the species' namesake white crescent marking that extends from the crown through the lores and almost reaches the throat, plus a small white spot behind the eye. Their crown and nape are dark sooty gray, and their face is black. The lower end of the white crescent changes to ochraceous buff, and the species has an ochraceous buff spot on the side of the neck. Their upperparts are brownish olive. Their wings and tail are browner than their back, with whitish or light yellow-buff coloring on the leading edge of the outermost primary feather. The center of their chin and upper throat are white, with black stripes between this area and the crescent marking. Most of their underparts are white with a strong ochraceous buff wash and black stripes. Their sides and flanks are dull brownish olive with an ochraceous buff wash and faint dark gray stripes. Their undertail coverts are ochraceous buff. Both sexes have a dark brown iris, a black bill, and vinaceous gray to blue-gray legs and feet. The crescent-faced antpitta is distributed across scattered locations: from Quindío Department in Colombia's Central Andes, south along the eastern Andean slope to Loja Province in southern Ecuador. It inhabits the undergrowth of humid forest, including both cloudforest and elfin forest located near treeline, but does not extend past treeline. It does not appear to have as close an association with bamboo as many other Grallaricula antpittas do. While older publications listed its lower elevation limit as 1,800 m (5,900 ft), more recent, more detailed studies show the species occurs almost entirely above 2,900 m (9,500 ft). It reaches at least 3,700 m (12,100 ft) in elevation in Colombia, and at least 3,500 m (11,500 ft) in Ecuador.
