White-throated tinamou
| White-throated tinamou | |
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| Species: | T. guttatus
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| Tinamus guttatus | |
The white-throated tinamou (Tinamus guttatus) is a species of bird native to the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, northern Bolivia, southeastern Colombia, northeastern Ecuador, eastern Peru and southern Venezuela.[3]
Taxonomy
All tinamous are part of the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, to which tinamous are the closest living relatives.[4] The white-throated tinamou is a monotypic species.[3]
Etymology
Tinamus guttatus comes from two different languages. Tinamus is what the native tribe, Galibi, call tinamous, and guttatus means speckled from Latin.[5]
Description
The white-throated tinamou has chestnut-brown upperparts with blackish streaking on lower back and small yellowish-white spots. It has paler underparts with wider, dark barring on flanks. It has a grey head and neck, with a white throat, brown eye, and brown bill. These birds measure between 32 and 36 cm (13 and 14 in) in length.
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the white-throated tinamou eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes, as well as invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as four different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually two to three weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.[4]
Range and habitat
They inhabit sub-tropical and tropical lowland forests at around 500 m (1,600 ft) or lower.[1] They eat seeds, fruits and invertebrates. Along with other species of tinamous.
Conservation
It is a relatively abundant species in its habitat and the main threat to it is deforestation. As of 2012 the status of the white-throated tinamou is Near Threatened, and it has a range occurrence of 4,000,000 km2 (1,500,000 sq mi).[1] Its eggs are prized possessions to some collectors.
Footnotes
References
- Brands, Sheila (Aug 14, 2008). "Systema Naturae 2000 / Classification, Genus Tinamus". Project: The Taxonomicon. Retrieved Feb 4, 2009.
- Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-4501-9.
- Davies, S.J.J.F. (2003). "Tinamous". In Hutchins, Michael (ed.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Vol. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins (2 ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 57–59. ISBN 0-7876-5784-0.
- Gotch, A.F. (1995) [1979]. "Tinamous". Latin Names Explained. A Guide to the Scientific Classifications of Reptiles, Birds & Mammals. London: Facts on File. p. 182. ISBN 0-8160-3377-3.
External links
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