Nothoprocta
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.jpg) Andean Tinamou (N. pentlandii)
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6, see text. |
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. Their diet includes seeds and insects. They nest on the ground, laying large glossy eggs. The eggs are covered with feathers when a potential predator is nearby.
They are medium-sized tinamous, 26-36 cm long. They have strong legs and fairly long, downcurved bills. The plumage is mostly grey-brown with intricate black, white and buff markings. The birds have loud, whistling calls.
[edit] Species list
There are at least six species in the genus. A seventh species, Kalinowski's Tinamou (Nothoprocta kalinowskii), is sometimes recognized but is more likely to be a junior synonym of Nothoprocta ornata branickii, a subspecies of the Ornate Tinamou.[1]
- Taczanowski's Tinamou, Nothoprocta taczanowskii
- Ornate Tinamou, Nothoprocta ornata
- Chilean Tinamou, Nothoprocta perdicaria
- Brushland Tinamou, Nothoprocta cinerascens
- Andean Tinamou, Nothoprocta pentlandii
- Curve-billed Tinamou, Nothoprocta curvirostris
[edit] References
- ^ Krabbe, Niels & Schulenberg, Thomas S. (2005). "A mystery solved: the identity and distribution of Kalinowski's Tinamou (Nothoprocta kalinowskii)", Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 125(4): 253-260
- Mata, Jorge R. Rodriguez; Erize, Francisco & Rumboll, Maurice (2006). A Field Guide to the Birds of South America: Non-Passerines, HarperCollins, London.
- Perrins, Christopher, ed. (2004). The New Encyclopedia of Birds, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
