Red-legged tinamou facts for kids
The red-legged tinamou or red-footed tinamou (Crypturellus erythropus) is a bird that lives on the ground in the warm, tropical, and subtropical parts of northern South America.
Quick facts for kids Red-legged tinamou |
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| Illustration by Keulemans, 1895 | |
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Crypturellus
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| Species: |
erythropus
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C. e. erythropus (Pelzeln, 1863) |
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Contents
What the Red-Legged Tinamou Looks Like
Even though it looks a bit like a quail, the red-legged tinamou is not related to quails. It's a type of bird called a tinamou, which belongs to a group of ancient birds called Paleognathae.
This bird is about 27 to 32 centimeters (11 to 13 inches) long. It has brownish feathers on its back and wings. Its chest is grey, and its belly is a lighter, creamy color. The back and wings often have faint stripes, which are sometimes hard to see, especially on males. The stripes can also look different depending on the specific type of red-legged tinamou. What makes it special are its rosy-red legs – it's the only tinamou in its area with legs this color!
Behavior and Life Cycle
Like other tinamous, this bird is not seen very often. However, you might hear its unique whistling voice. Scientists have recorded it eating seeds, berries, snails, and insects.
Not much is known about how red-legged tinamous raise their young. Their eggs are shiny and pale greyish-lavender, sometimes with a bit of pink.
The Meaning of Its Name
The scientific name Crypturellus comes from three parts of Latin or Greek words.
- kruptos means "covered" or "hidden."
- oura means "tail."
- -ellus is a Latin ending that means "small."
So, Crypturellus means "small hidden tail." This name fits because tinamous have very short tails that are often hidden by their feathers.
Types of Tinamous
All tinamous belong to the family Tinamidae. They are also part of a larger group of birds called ratites. Other ratites include ostriches, emus, and rheas, which are mostly flightless birds.
Unlike most other ratites, tinamous can fly, but they are not very strong fliers. Scientists believe that all ratites evolved from ancient flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relatives to these prehistoric birds.
There are several types, or subspecies, of the red-legged tinamou:
- C. e. erythropus: Found in eastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and northeastern Brazil.
- C. e. cursitans: Lives east of the Andes mountains in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
- C. e. spencei: Found in northern Venezuela.
- C. e. margaritae: Lives on Margarita Island.
- C. e. saltuarius (Magdalena tinamou): Found in northeastern Colombia in Sierra de Ocaña.
- C. e. columbianus (Colombian tinamou): Lives in tropical north-central Colombia.
- C. e. idoneus (Santa Marta tinamou): Found in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
Scientists are still studying the exact family tree of these birds. Some experts think that the Magdalena, Santa Marta, and Colombian tinamous might be their own separate species instead of just types of the red-legged tinamou. However, the SACC (a group of bird experts) has not yet agreed to this change because there isn't enough clear evidence.
Also, some types of red-legged tinamous were once thought to be related to other tinamou species, like the thicket tinamou, the Choco tinamou, and the yellow-legged tinamou.
Where They Live and Their Home
The red-legged tinamou lives in Guyana, Suriname, Colombia, Venezuela, and northeastern Brazil. It can also be found on Margarita Island and possibly in French Guiana.
These birds prefer to live in dry forests. However, they can also be found in moist forests, lower elevation shrublands, and grasslands. They usually live in areas below 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) in elevation.
Conservation Status
The red-legged tinamou is generally not rare and can be found in many parts of its range. However, some of its subspecies are in trouble. The Magdalena tinamou is very rare and might even be extinct. The Colombian tinamou is considered endangered.
The biggest problem for these birds is habitat destruction, which means their homes are being destroyed. Hunting is also a problem. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists the red-legged tinamou as a species of "Least Concern." This means that, as a whole, the species is not currently at high risk of extinction. Its living area covers about 1,800,000 square kilometers (690,000 square miles).
See also
In Spanish: Perdiz de patas rojas para niños
