Chilean Tinamou
Nothoprocta perdicaria
Tinamiformes Order – Tinamidae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Chilean Tinamou is endemic to Chile where it is the only widespread Tinamou. The species was introduced on Easter Island in 1888.
It is usually found in grassland and Mattoral habitat with grassy openings, also orchards and cultivated areas. It can be found between 400 and 2,000 metres of elevation in shrubland.
It feeds on various seeds, mainly from wild plants, but its choice varies depending on the season. It also takes occasionally some invertebrates.
The Chilean Tinamou is primarily a terrestrial species, flying only when necessary.
During the breeding season, the male mates with several females, but following the laying, it incubates the eggs and takes care of the chicks until they become independent. After the laying, the female may also mate with one or more males.
The population of the Chilean Tinamou is decreasing, due to degradation and loss of the habitat, hunting and trapping, use of pesticides and collisions with farm machinery and wind turbines.
However, the species is described as “fairly common” and it is not globally threatened at the moment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 29-30 cm
Weight: 420-455 gr
The Chilean Tinamou of nominate race has streaky brown upperparts on crown, nape, hindneck, back, uppertail and wing-coverts, with heavy black and white pattern on feathers. On the upperwing, the dark brown primaries have whitish markings on the outer webs. The rufous secondaries show broad dark brown stripes on the outer webs, and dark chestnut- brown streaks on the inner webs. The very short tail shows similar pattern.
On the underparts, cheeks, throat, foreneck and breast are brownish, whereas belly and flanks are buff.
On the head, the crown is brown with buffy head sides and a dusky stripe on the side of the throat. On the crown, some elongated feathers are often raised, forming a bushy crest.
The bill is dark greyish or brown, with paler pinkish base of lower mandible. It is slightly downcurved.
The eyes are brown.
The strong legs and feet are pale yellowish/brown. The feet have three toes, and there is a spur on the rear of the leg, slightly above the feet.
Male and female have similar appearance, but the female is slightly larger than male.
The juvenile resembles adult, but throat, neck and breast are darker pinkish brown, with conspicuous pale shaft streaks. The lower underparts are deeper buff/tawny.
SUBSPECIES AND RANGE:
The Chilean Tinamou has two subspecies. The birds from the wetter southern areas of the range are darker than those living in the drier northern parts, but the difference between them is minimal.
Nothoprocta perdicaria perdicaria (described above) is found in NC Chile (Atacama to Nuble). It has been introduced on Easter Island in 1888. The species is regularly observed on the island.
Nothoprocta perdicaria sanborni occurs in SC Chile (Maule to Llanquihue). This subspecies was observed SO of Río Negro, Argentina.
This race is generally darker than nominate. It differs by dark rufous belly with pale buff tinge in the centre. On the back, the streaks are more rufous.
HABITAT:
The Chilean Tinamou is usually observed in dry land such as grasslands, scrublands and low shrubs. It also frequents cultivated areas, especially wheat fields, but also orchards and fallow land.
The species is frequently observed on the roadsides where native vegetation is growing. It uses these areas as refuge and nesting-sites.
The Chilean Tinamou can be seen from sea-level up to 2,000 metres of elevation.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
As a terrestrial species, the Chilean Tinamou vocalizes from the ground.
At the beginning of the breeding season, the males give a loud, double whistle to mark their territories. It is described as a strident, far-carrying whistle “sweeee weeee”. We can also hear a whistled “treewit”.
When the bird is alarmed or flushed from a hiding place, the male produces strident alarm whistles.
While the bird is flushed, the wings produce a whirring noise.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Chilean Tinamou usually consumes wild plant seeds, especially seeds of Poaceae family during the summer. During the winter, it feeds mainly on seeds of Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae, which are the most common in its diet.
This species is essentially granivorous, although invertebrates are consumed, depending on the season. This diet includes snails, earthworms, spiders, crickets, stick grasshoppers, butterflies, beetles, bees, ants… mainly taken during the summer.
From several observations, the Chilean Tinamou is considered as a large terrestrial granivorous-insectivorous species, and is also takes some crustaceans.
It is suggested that the Chilean Tinamou forages mainly in abandoned pastures or shrubs, feeding on a high proportion of weed seeds, and very low proportion of seeds of cultivated plant species.
It forages by picking out seeds and bulbs from the soil with its bill.
Generally among tinamous, the males practice simultaneous polygyny whereas the females practice sequential polyandry.
The Chilean Tinamou becomes more vocal during the breeding season. It calls almost continuously to attract two or more females and to mark the territory.
The males mate with one or more females while the females mate with one or more other males.
Incubation and chick-rearing are carried out by the male. The nest is on the ground, but no structure is actually built.
The species is sedentary within its range, but it may move to lower elevations during the winter.
The Chilean Tinamou has small, rounded wings that do not allow a good flight. Although the flight may be rapid, the bird quickly stalls. If it is chased, it is often caught on the ground.
Usually, the tinamous prefer to run away if they are harassed. They take-off in a vigorous flight while calling loudly. But the flight is usually straight and short, and they are not able to take flight again.
This species is primarily a terrestrial bird.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season of the Chilean Tinamou varies, depending on the range, between September and December in Coquimbo Region, and from October, November and December to March further south.
The nest is on the ground. It is a simple structure loosely made of grass and leaves and lined with some feathers. It is placed under tall grass or small shrub.
The female lays 5-8, sometimes up to 12 shiny, chocolate-brown eggs, and she may lay her eggs in several nests. In captivity, she lays an egg every 2-5 days.
The male incubates alone. In captivity, this period lasts 19-21 days. The chicks are precocial and leave the nest when hatching. They follow the male which feed them. The male takes care of the chicks during a month and half after hatching, until they become independent. The young are fed on insects, pieces of vegetables and grass seeds.
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Chilean Tinamou is currently described as “fairly common” in the wide range, but it is threatened by hunting which is legal in Chile, where about 48,000 tinamous are killed every year.
The species is also affected by pesticides and collisions with farm machinery and wind turbines when foraging in cultivated fields.
The Chilean Tinamou occurs in several protected areas, but there is no specific protection measures concerning this species.
The size of the population is unknown, but it is suspected to be slowly decreasing.
The Chilean Tinamou is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
Fr: Tinamou perdrix
Ang: Chilean Tinamou
All: Chiletinamu
Esp: Tinamú Chileno
Ita: Tinamo del Cile
Nd: Chileense Tinamoe
Sd: chiletinamo
Photographer:
John Anderson
John Anderson Photo Galleries
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD vol 1 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliot-Jordi Sargatal - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334105
Diet of the Chilean Tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria) in central-south Chile
Huevos de tinamou (nothoprocta perdicaria): una nueva alternativa en Chile
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia