Hooded Tinamou
Nothocercus nigrocapillus
Fairly large, terrestrial bird of Andean cloud forest. It has a gray head, a white throat, white speckling on the wings, and faint barring on the belly. Similar to White-throated Tinamou, but Hooded has a grayer head, a less mottled neck, and a different voice, and is found at higher elevations. Very shy and solitary, heard far more often than seen; song is a nasal “ow” repeated every few seconds.
Identification
Hooded tinamou is light brown above and narrowly freckled with black in color. It is paler below with dusky bars, belly pale-spotted, and averages 33 cm (13 in) long.
Taxonomy
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. Ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.<p>The hooded tinamou has two subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Nothocercus nigrocapillus
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1867)
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Nothocercus
Range and habitat
The hooded tinamou is found in montane moist forest up to 1,550 to 3,000 m (5,090–9,840 ft) altitude. This species is native to the Andes in Bolivia and Peru.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the hooded 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
This species has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 35,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi).
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Variable Shrikethrush
Colluricincla fortis
A chunky bird with a thick bill. Quite plain: brownish on the back, grayish on the head, and paler below, with indistinct breast streaking. Color of the underparts varies geographically from dull rufous to whitish-buff. Found at low and middle elevations in humid forest, including secondary forest. Rich, melodious, variable song consists of several penetrating whistles, generally in an up-and-down pattern. Calls include “chek” notes. Somewhat similar to Rusty Pitohui, but smaller, with a dark rather than pale eye. Also similar to Gray Shrikethrush, but smaller, shorter-tailed, and browner, with a darker face. Could be confused with female Black Shrikethrush, but always smaller and paler.
Bronze-winged Courser
Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Large courser with dark brown upperparts and a white belly. In flight, shows a dark upperwing and a black-and-white underwing. Found in savannah and woodland, including miombo and Guinea savanna. A nocturnal species, it spends the day roosting under a thick bush. Calls at night with a haunting, slurred “chee-yaaaa-oo.” This is the courser that is most similar to a lapwing, but its shape is different: taller and with longer legs, and the details of the head and breast pattern don’t match those of any lapwing.
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis tickelliae
Attractive medium-sized flycatcher with blue upperparts and orange-and-white underparts, with the most orange on the chest and the throat. Male is more intensely-colored overall than the female. Smaller-billed profile, less extensive orange, and paler face distinguish this species from male Hill Blue Flycatcher. Extensive orange on the throat separates Tickell’s from Blue-throated Flycatcher. Favors open hill forests as well as forest edge, particularly in drier, scrubby areas, often close to water. Both sexes give a pleasant high-pitched tinkling song. Calls include dry rattles and metallic clinks.
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