Taczanowski's Tinamou

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Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Tinamiformes
Family:	Tinamidae
Genus:	Nothoprocta
Species:	N. taczanowskii

Binomial name

Nothoprocta taczanowskii
(Sclater & Salvin, 1875)

The Taczanowski's Tinamou Nothoprocta taczanowskii is a type of ground bird found at the eastern Andes (Cordillera Oriental) in Peru, and adjacent La Paz Department, Bolivia. In Peru, there are records from several sites in Apurímac, Cuzco and Puno, but it has not been recorded in the Chincheros/ Pampa Valley area, north-west Apurímac, since 1970. The Cordillera de Huanzo, southern Apurímac, has produced only one specimen (collected in 1977) and those from the northern Cordillera de Carabaya, Cuzco, were taken in 1871. It has been recorded from the Maraynioc area, Junín, but there have probably not been any surveys since the last records in 1939. The species was recorded for the first time in Bolivia in 1999, when one male was collected and three to four juveniles observed in Apolobamba National Integrated Management Reserve, La Paz.

This bird is named after Władysław Taczanowski to commemorate him.

1 Characteristics
2 Habitats
3 Threats
- 3.1 Conservation measures
4 References

[edit] Characteristics

Taczanowski's Tinamou is a dark, and finely-marked tinamou. Its head grey and neck with blackish crown and face markings with pale greyish buff throat. Its upperparts dusky with thin, buff stripes and inconspicuous brown barring with black and buff mottling on wing-coverts. It has tawny flight feathers, barred blackish. Its breast grey with buffy spots bordered black. Rest of underparts buff, barred dusky with long, blackish, curved bill. The young is generally richer in brown color. The species has a loud, cackling cuyy-cuyy voice when flushed.

[edit] Habitats

Taczanowski's Tinamou inhabits high altitude grassland and shrubland at altitude 2,700 to 4,000 m. It may also be found at pastureland and arable land habitats. It frequently feeds on tuber crops, especially potatoes. Eggs and chicks have been collected in April and May and October.

[edit] Threats

Taczanowski's Tinamou is currently threatened by degrading of its habitats caused by human activities, such as frequent burning of grassland, and cutting, burning and livestock-grazing in high-altitude copses and shrubby patches. The species is also hunted by people for food.

[edit] Conservation measures

There have been surveys of its high-altitude habitats, and measures have been proposed for their conservation such as regulate the use of fire, reintroduce old high-yielding agricultural techniques, restrict grazing, facilitate low-impact ecotourism and associated trades to generate income for the local people, encourage local people to take a leading role in land-use management and restoration schemes. It was also porposed to make social and political reforms to deal with existing land-right conflicts, and encourage sustainable use on a large-scale. The species has been protected in Ampay Forest National Sanctuary, and in Bolivian Apolobamba National Integrated Management Reserve.