Dwarf tinamou facts for kids
The dwarf tinamou (Taoniscus nanus), also called the least tinamou, is a small bird. It looks a bit like a partridge but has short tails and wings.
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Understanding the Dwarf Tinamou's Family Tree
All tinamous belong to the family Tinamidae. They are also part of a larger group of birds called ratites. Ratites are mostly large, flightless birds like ostriches and emus. But tinamous are special because they can fly! However, they are not very strong fliers.
Scientists believe that all ratites came from ancient flying birds. Tinamous are the closest living relatives to these prehistoric flying birds. The dwarf tinamou is the only species in its group, called a genus, named Taoniscus. This means it's a unique bird with no close living relatives in its genus.
A recent study from 2022 suggested that the dwarf tinamou might actually be part of the Nothura genus. Scientists are still learning more about these birds!
What Does the Dwarf Tinamou Look Like?
The dwarf tinamou is about 16 cm (6.3 in) long. It has a greyish-brown body. Its throat is light, and its neck and upper parts have bold patterns. The underside of its body is buff-colored with brown stripes. It also has a blackish crown on its head.
Some dwarf tinamous are darker and greyer than others. Scientists are not sure if these color differences are due to different types of birds (called morphs) or if they are differences between males and females. The bird's eyes and legs are a dull yellowish color. It looks a bit like a small, plump nothura bird. But it can be easily confused with the ocellated crake.
How Does the Dwarf Tinamou Communicate?
The dwarf tinamou has a unique voice. It makes high-pitched sounds that are like a cricket's trills. These trills are then followed by "peet" notes.
Where Does the Dwarf Tinamou Live?
The dwarf tinamou lives in dry, scrubby grasslands. These areas are usually around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high. You can find them in the Cerrado region of southeastern Brazil. This includes areas like Distrito Federal, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, and São Paulo. They used to live in Paraná too.
There were also reports of dwarf tinamous in Paraguay (Misiones) and Argentina (near the Río Bermejo in Chaco or Formosa). However, all recent sightings have been in Brazil. This bird is very good at hiding, so it's easy to miss them!
What Does the Dwarf Tinamou Eat?
The dwarf tinamou mainly eats grass seeds. It also enjoys eating termites and other insects and arthropods.
Why is the Dwarf Tinamou in Danger?
The dwarf tinamou is facing many threats. Its home is shrinking because of mechanised agriculture (farming with machines) and intense cattle-ranching. New forests are being planted where they used to live. Also, invasive grasses, too many pesticides, and yearly fires are harming their habitat.
People also hunt these birds for food in some areas. Farming and ranching are the biggest dangers to the dwarf tinamou. Because of these threats, the dwarf tinamou is listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. This means it is at high risk of becoming extinct.
The area where they live is about 57,700 km2 (22,300 sq mi). The last count in 2000 estimated there were between 5,800 and 6,960 adult dwarf tinamous left.
Protecting the Dwarf Tinamou
The dwarf tinamou is currently protected in three special areas. These are the Serra da Canastra National Park, the Itapetininga Experimental Station, and the IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve.
Scientists have tried to find the bird in areas near the Río Bermejo, Argentina, using recordings of its calls. But they haven't found any. There are also plans to search for this bird in other national parks in Brazil. These include Serra do Cipó National Park, Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, and Emas National Park. More searches are also planned for Argentina and Paraguay where the birds were once seen.
Experts also want to find the best ways to manage the protected areas. They also want to control the burning of the cerrado habitats to help save the dwarf tinamou.
Images for kids
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In upright "alert" posture
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Range map of the dwarf tinamou
See also
In Spanish: Inambú o Tinamú enano para niños
