Moustached Turca

Identification

The moustached is a stocky bird, approximately 22.5 cm (8.9 inches) long and a mass between 95–125 grams (3.4–4.4 oz). It has a heavy bill, cocked tail and disproportionately big feet, from which its name originates from. The adult plumage is mostly cinnamon brown with white barring on the breast, belly and undertail-coverts. The top of their head can appear gray-brown. They have a dark eyestripe, white eyebrow and a white broad stripe on the sides of the throat. The bill and legs are black in adults. Overall, the juveniles resemble the adults with differences being that juveniles have an unbarred rump and more fainted barring on the flanks. The plumage of females and males are alike, but size-wise the female is usually smaller.<p>The atacamae subspecies is smaller, overall much paler and has whiter underparts in comparison to its sister subspecies.<p>The only species it could be confused with is the white-throated tapaculo (Scelorchilus albicollis) which shares a similar environment. However, the tapaculo is smaller and does not have the distinctive white moustache of the turca.

Taxonomy

The species name originates from the ancient greek μέγας, mégas \mé.ɡas\ and πούς, poús \pǒːs\, which translates to "big feet".<p>The species was first described by Heinrich von Kittlitz during his voyage in 1830 on the Russian Senjawin expedition. Since the species within the Rhinocryptidae family are very closely genetically related, their classification is mostly based on behaviour, ecology and plumage. The genus of this species was initially referred to as Hylactes, but the official name Pteroptochos was retained shortly afterwards. The moustached turca is a member of this genus along with two species of Huet-huet (Black-throated huet-huet and Chestnut-throated huet-huet) to which it is closely related.<p>Due to separate geographical location of occurrence and distinctive features, two subspecies have been recognized, the Pteroptochos megapodius megapodius (von Kittlitz, 1830) and the Pteroptochos megapodius atacamae (R. A Philippi-B, 1946).

Scientific name

Pteroptochos megapodius

Authority

Kittlitz, 1830

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Rhinocryptidae

Genus

Pteroptochos

Range and habitat

This species is endemic to Chile. The nominate subspecies, megapodius, is found in central Chile, from the center towards the southern limit. The isolated form, atacamae, occurs in the Atacama Region.<p>All observations regarding reproductive individuals were found between the sea level and 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in the foothills of the Andes. However, some non-reproductive individuals have been found at altitudes up to 3,200 metres (10,500 ft). Overall, the species can be found on hillsides with some shrubs and low tree cover. It prefers areas with low water content in the soil and in the case of the atacamae subspecies is only found in a semi-desert region with scattered rocks and boulders. More information is needed regarding its specific habitat requirements.<p>Regarding its distribution, based on previous observations made by Reed (1904) and Passler (1929), the southern limit of the distribution was thought to be the Concepción region and the northern limit, the Coquimbo region. Since then, there have been many debates regarding these limits. In 1946, Goodall et al. suggested the northern limit as the Huasco river and reiterates that the southern limit is the Concepción region. In 2004, Marin suggested Quebrado El León as the northern limit and Las Trancas as the southern limit. In the last couple of years, the northern limit has been narrowed down to the Parque National Llanos Challe using current eBird observations whereas the southern limit has been moved much more North than previously thought, in the region of Rauco. Observations of the moustached turca were not found South of the Rauco region. This concords with other records that suggest the distribution of this species was limited to the southern limit of the Constitución region before the forest plantations. Passler’s observations in 1929 in the Concepción region were probably of the black-throated huet-huet, Pteroptochos tarnii.

Migration

Resident species

Behavior

It is a mainly ground-dwelling bird and can run quickly. It seldom uses its wings and only does so for short distance flights. It is preyed on by Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), the bicolored hawk (Accipiter bicolor), the austral pygmy owl (Glaucidium nanum) and the barn owl (Tyto alba). There are no observations of predation on their eggs in their nest.<p>The moustached turca's repertoire is extensive. As of today, six vocalizations have been identified, the song, bubbling call, guerk, guk and the gweek. Its song is a series of low, hooting notes lasting for 5 to 10 seconds.<p>The turca will mostly vocalize during the morning and at dusk, however song and calls can also be heard throughout the day. Typically, it will vocalize its song and bubbling call when perched on exposed rock, such as on top of high boulder, so as to make their voice resonate and be heard from a farther distance. Whereas other species within the Rhinocryptidae family have sex-specific vocalizations, it is still unknown if this applies to the moustached turca. Additionally, whether the vocalizations have different functions also remains unclear.<p>The moustached turca feeds mostly on invertebrates such as insects and earthworms. They can also feed on seeds and fruits by displacing rocks and foraging near plants.<p>They will start their nesting process in July and chicks will hatch between August and December. Adults have been observed to start their nests at the end of July. Some observations have been made of adults carrying food in the nest up until January, suggesting the rearing of young birds is still happening at that time.<p>The moustached turca creates tunnels between 0.4–2.2 metres (16–87 in) deep in an earth bank on steep rocky hillsides (1)(2). No vegetation protects the entrance but due to the steep slope, it is presumed to be well protected from predators (1). At the end of this burrow is a cavity of approximately 25 centimetres (9.8 in) of width where the nest is found.<p>The megapodius subspecies has slightly bigger eggs with a mean length of 35.3 millimetres (1.39 in) and width of 26.6 millimetres (1.05 in) in comparison to the atacamae, with respectively 32.1 millimetres (1.26 in) and 24.6 millimetres (0.97 in). Clutch size also varies between both subspecies, with the megapodius usually having 2 eggs with an occasional third and the atacamae having 3 eggs. All eggs are white.<p>More research is needed on the post-reproductive behaviour of adults and juveniles.

Conservation

Population trend

stable