Rusty Tinamou
Crypturellus brevirostris
Small tinamou, barred cinnamon and black above, rusty below, with a pale belly. Found mostly in seasonally flooded forest, but also recorded in upland forest, where it forages on the ground. The song is a series of musical whistles, starting slowly and accelerating towards the end.
Identification
The rusty tinamou is 27 to 29 cm (10.6–11.4 in) in length. Its upper parts are rufous boldly barred with black, its throat is white, its breast is bright rufous, its belly is white, and its flanks are barred black. Its crown is chestnut in color with legs that are yellowish-grey.
Taxonomy
The rusty tinamou is a monotypic species. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
- Scientific name
- Crypturellus brevirostris
- Authority
- (Pelzeln, 1863)
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Crypturellus
Range and habitat
It is found in tropical swamp forests and lowland forests, up to 500 m (1,600 ft) altitude. This species is native to northeastern and northwestern Brazil, French Guiana, and eastern Peru in South America.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the rusty tinamou eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes. They also eat small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as 4 different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually 2–3 weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Well-camouflaged chickenlike bird. Intricately patterned plumage varies from cold gray to rich reddish-brown. Look for relatively long, squared tail with dark band near the tip, bold barring on the sides, and small pointed crest. Typically shy and difficult to see well. Often flushed from the forest floor, exploding into the air with a startling burst of wingbeats and then gliding down towards the next hiding place. Sometimes ventures onto roadsides to pick up grit. In spring, males beat their wings to produce a distinctive low-pitched drumming sound. Widespread and locally fairly common across northern North America, from the Appalachians to Alaska. Especially fond of forested areas with dense understory and secondary growth.
White-throated Jacamar
Brachygalba albogularis
Small, distinctive jacamar of riverways and forest clearings in lowland rainforest. More social than larger jacamars, often encountered in small groups. Chocolate brown, with a cream-colored face and bill. Flycatches around the edges of forest clearings, often near water; also found in swampy forest and marsh edges. Call is a high, bisyllabic squeak: “peeweet?”; song is a high, accelerating series of whistles.
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Tympanuchus cupido
Plump, chickenlike bird found in grasslands. Body and wings entirely barred brown with paler buffy throat. In spring, males gather at display site and dance to attract females: look for them hunched over with earlike feathers protruding from the head and yellowish-orange skin exposed on the neck. Inconspicuous and difficult to find away from display sites. Separate from Lesser Prairie-Chicken by range; averages slightly darker and larger than Lesser. Darker than Sharp-tailed Grouse with more heavily barred sides and belly; rounded tail.
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