Tawny-breasted Tinamou
Nothocercus julius
Plump chickenlike bird found on the ground inside montane forest from extreme western Venezuela to extreme northern Peru. Dark brownish overall with a paler throat, messy vermiculation on the upperparts and flanks, and a warm tawny belly. Occurs from around 1,500m-3,200m, within forest. Very rarely seen. Listen for its song, a series of repeated querulous notes.
Identification
The tawny-breasted tinamou has brown upperparts barred with black, and its wings have buff spots. Below its bright chestnut head, it has a white throat. Its breast and flanks are olivaceous brown, while the rest of its underparts are bright rufous. This tinamou measures 35.5–38 cm (14.0–15.0 in) in length.
Taxonomy
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. The species is named after Jules Verreaux.
- Scientific name
- Nothocercus julius
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1854)
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Nothocercus
Range and habitat
The tawny-breasted tinamou is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest up to 1,700 to 3,350 m (5,580–10,990 ft) altitude. This species is native to the Andes in far western Venezuela, central Colombia, Ecuador, and southern Peru.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the tawny-breasted 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 tawny-breasted tinamou is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, and has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 110,000 km2 (42,000 sq mi).
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-shouldered Blackbird
Agelaius assimilis
A mostly black inhabitant of swamps and marshes. The male has a telltale orange-red shoulder patch with pale yellow trim, which the female lacks. Both sexes of Tawny-shouldered Blackbird have a yellow-orange shoulder, though the shoulder color is sometimes only visible in flight. The Shiny Cowbird lacks a shoulder patch, is quite glossy, and has a shorter and stouter bill than Red-shouldered Blackbird. The call is a “chut” or “chut-chut” and song is a shrill “Shuh-reee-eee.”
Black-collared Swallow
Pygochelidon melanoleuca
Small, handsome swallow of boulder-strewn rivers. Black-and-white pattern is distinctive but can be surprisingly hard to discern in bright sunlight. Note long-tailed profile and habitat. When gliding, often appears to hold wings below the horizontal. Seldom if ever encountered away from rocky rapids, around which groups cluster, sitting directly on rocks and flying about, chasing insects. Tends not to fly higher than treetop level. Often found with the more widespread White-banded Swallow.
Gray Tinamou
Tinamus tao
Very large chicken-like bird, widespread across the Amazon basin, but nowhere common. Distinguished from other tinamous by entirely gray plumage with fine black barring on the upperparts and some white speckling on the head. Gray Tinamou is also larger than other large species such as Great and White-throated Tinamous. Favors areas of upland forest and is most often encountered by voice, a single, short hollow whistle given at long intervals.
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