Chilean Tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria)

Chilean Tinamou

[order] TINAMIFORMES | [family] Tinamidae | [latin] Nothoprocta perdicaria | [authority] Kittlitz, 1830 | [UK] Chilean Tinamou | [FR] Tinamou perdrix | [DE] Chile-Steisshuhn | [ES] Tinamu Chileno | [NL] Chileense Tinamoe

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

Tinamous are paleognaths related to the flightless ratites. They are probably close in appearance to the flying ancestors of the ratites. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. Nothoprocta is a genus of birds belonging to the tinamou family Tinamidae. They inhabit scrubland, grassland and open woodland in western South America, particularly in the Andes. They are poor fliers and spend most of their time on the ground. They are medium-sized tinamous with strong legs and fairly long, downcurved bills. The plumage is mostly grey-brown with intricate black, white and buff markings.

Physical charateristics

Its upper parts grayish brown to olive, and have dark barring and pale streaking, its throat is white, its breast is gray, and its belly is buff. Its bill is brown and its legs are pale yellow to brown.

Listen to the sound of Chilean Tinamou

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/TINAMIFORMES/Tinamidae/sounds/Chilean Tinamou.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 29 cm size max.: 32 cm
incubation min.: 0 days incubation max.: 0 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 0   eggs min.: 5  
      eggs max.: 12  

Range

South America : Chile. The Chilean Tinamou is the only widespread tinamou in Chile, and is endemic to that country. It is a common bird in the central zone of Chile reaching south to the Lake District

Habitat

The Chilean Tinamou is found in grassland, open acacia scrub, and Matorral habitat with grassy openings, but it also takes orchards, agricultural areas, fallow land and even wheat and canola fields.

Reproduction

The females lay 10-12 glossy eggs in a scrape. The male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks. The eggs are covered with feathers when left unattended. Incubation is around 21 days. The chicks are buff with dark stripes, and run soon after hatching and fly when half-grown.

Feeding habits

Semi dry prairies, grassland and scrub where it is frequently observed beside roads.

Video Chilean Tinamou

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_18DJ_GafU

copyright: Jose del Hoyo


Conservation

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Chilean Tinamou status Least Concern

Migration

Sedentary in all of its range, but not well known

Distribution map

Chilean Tinamou distribution range map

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