Lesser nothura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser nothura |
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Nothura
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minor
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The lesser nothura (Nothura minor) is a small bird that lives in dry grassland areas. You can find it in tropical parts of east-central South America. It belongs to a group of birds called tinamous.
Contents
Understanding the Lesser Nothura: Taxonomy
All tinamous are part of the Tinamidae family. They are also considered a type of ratite. Ratites are a group of birds that mostly cannot fly, like ostriches and emus. However, tinamous are special because they can fly, even if they are not super strong flyers. Scientists believe that all ratites, including the lesser nothura, came from ancient birds that could fly. Tinamous are the closest living relatives to these very old flying birds.
Where the Lesser Nothura Lives: Habitats
The lesser nothura likes to live in dry grasslands in tropical areas. It can be found at heights between 200 and 1,000 meters (about 650 to 3,300 feet) above sea level. This bird also lives in dry shrublands and savannas. It seems that they do not like grasslands that have been recently burned.
Finding the Lesser Nothura: Range
You can find the lesser nothura in parts of southeastern Brazil. Recently, it was also found in one place in east-central Paraguay.
Some specific places where they have been seen include:
- In the Federal District: Brasilia National Park, IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve, and Taguatinga.
- In Goiás: Emas National Park and Luziânia.
- In Minas Gerais: Serra da Canastra National Park and Serra do Cipó National Park.
- In São Paulo: Itapetininga Experimental Station and Itirapina Experimental Station.
- In San Pedro department, Paraguay: Laguna Blanca.
What the Lesser Nothura Looks Like: Description
The lesser nothura is a small bird, usually about 18 to 20 centimeters (about 7 to 8 inches) long. It has a reddish-brown color with a chestnut-colored top of its head and yellow spots. Its face is a light yellowish-brown, and its throat is yellow. It has dark brown spots on its chest that turn into streaks. The sides of its body have brown markings, and its belly is chestnut with reddish-brown stripes. Its wings are reddish-brown with dark stripes. The bird has yellow legs, a black beak, and brown eyes.
Lesser Nothura's Daily Life: Behavior
The lesser nothura makes long, high-pitched whistling sounds. It probably lays its eggs and raises its young between October and February.
Protecting the Lesser Nothura: Conservation
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the lesser nothura as a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. The main reasons for this are that its population is spread out in small groups, and its natural home is disappearing.
The areas where lesser nothuras live are being destroyed quickly. This is happening because of:
- Modern farming methods using machines.
- Lots of cattle ranching.
- Planting too many trees in areas that should be grasslands.
- Invasive grasses that take over their habitat.
- Too much use of pesticides.
- Fires that happen every year.
By 1993, a large part of the Cerrado region (where these birds live) had been changed a lot, mostly since 1950. Farming, ranching, fires, and pesticides are the biggest threats to this bird.
The lesser nothura is protected by Brazilian law. It lives safely in several national parks and reserves, including Brasília National Park, Emas National Park, Serra da Canastra National Park, IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve, Itapetininga Experimental Station, and Itirapina Experimental Station.
Scientists have suggested looking for more suitable places for these birds in Serra do Cipó National Park and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. They also want to find other unprotected areas in north-eastern Paraguay, northern and western Minas Gerais, and Goiás that could be good homes for the lesser nothura.
