Previously treated as a subspecies of Magellanic Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus). Geographical isolation of the two subspecies, together with readily apparent plumage differences, suggest that they may be more appropriately treated as separate species. Racial identity of birds from central Andes of Colombia uncertain and tentatively included in subspecies opacus. Birds from south of range (south of R Zamora in Ecuador), having different call note and with most males possessing white wing patch, may merit subspecific separation.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
canus Chapman, 1915 - Western Andes of Colombia in Antioquia.
opacus J. T. Zimmer, 1941 - Central Andes of Colombia (La Leonera, in Caldas; Volcán Puracé) south to Ecuador (in west, only in Carchi) and extreme northern Peru.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet