Tinamou curvirostre

Identification

Un oiseau terrestre, ressemblant à une poule, trouvé uniquement à de très hautes altitudes dans les Andes. Il habite les zones herbeuses telles que les pâturages envahis et les páramos ; il ne s'aventure pas dans les forêts denses. Il a les parties inférieures cannelle et les parties supérieures brun foncé fortement striées de blanc ; parfois il arbore une petite crête. Son cri typique, mais rarement entendu, est un sifflement court et aigu. Habituellement timide et difficile à voir, mais il sort occasionnellement pour se nourrir à découvert le long des routes tranquilles tôt le matin.

Taxonomie

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.<p>The curve-billed tinamou has two subspecies as follows:<p>The curve-billed tinamou is approximately 28 cm (11 in) in length. Its upper parts are dark brown streaked with white and spotted with black. Its breast is rufous and spotted with white, its belly is tawny-buff and its crown is black, the sides of its head, and its throat and foreneck are white. Finally, its legs are brown in color.

Nom scientifique

Nothoprocta curvirostris

Autorité

Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1873

Ordre

Tinamiiformes

Famille

Tinamidae

Genre

Nothoprocta

Répartition et habitat

This tinamou lives in the Andes of central and southern Colombia, through Ecuador and northern and central Peru. It prefers grassland at 2,800 to 3,700 m (9,200–12,100 ft) in altitude. It also can be found in high-altitude shrubland and pasture.

Migration

Resident species

Comportement

Like other tinamous, the curve-billed 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 list this species as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi).

Tendance de la population

stable