Barred Tinamou
Crypturellus casiquiare
Very rare and poorly known tinamou of remote lowland rainforest. Existing records suggest that it favors areas with sandy soil. Rather small for a tinamou, with a chestnut head, a black back, wings marked with rusty bars, dingy underparts, and a pale throat. Few birders have ever seen it, and even hearing one requires some luck. Song is a series of whistles that starts out by accelerating and rising slightly in pitch, then slows down and falls towards the end.
Identification
The barred tinamou is approximately 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. It is yellowish-buff with heavy bars of black on its back, its throat is white, its front and sides of neck and breast are pale grey, its belly is white, its flanks are cream barred with black, and its head and neck are chestnut in color with legs that are olive-green. The female is paler on back.[citation needed]
Taxonomy
This 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 casiquiare
- Authority
- (Chapman, 1929)
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Crypturellus
Range and habitat
It prefers to live in tropical and sub-tropical lowland forests at an altitude of 100 to 200 m (330–660 ft) or lower. This species is native to eastern Colombia and southern Venezuela.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the barred 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
The IUCN classifies the barred tinamou as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 49,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi).
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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