Tawny-breasted tinamou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tawny-breasted tinamou |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nothocercus
|
| Species: |
julius
|
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The tawny-breasted tinamou (Nothocercus julius) is a special kind of bird that lives on the ground. You can find it in wet mountain forests. This bird makes its home in northwestern South America.
Contents
What is a Tawny-Breasted Tinamou?
All tinamous belong to the bird family called Tinamidae. They are also part of a bigger group of birds known as ratites. You might know other ratites like ostriches or emus. Unlike most ratites, tinamous can actually fly! However, they are not very strong flyers. Scientists believe that all ratites came from ancient birds that could fly. Tinamous are the closest living relatives to these old flying birds. This particular species is named after a person named Jules Verreaux.
How to Spot a Tawny-Breasted Tinamou
This tinamou has a unique look. Its upper body is brown with black stripes. Its wings have light yellow-brown spots. Below its bright chestnut-colored head, it has a white throat. The chest and sides of its body are an olive-brown color. The rest of its underside is a bright reddish-brown. This bird is about 35.5 to 38 centimeters (14 to 15 inches) long.
Life and Habits of the Tinamou
What Do They Eat?
Like other tinamous, the tawny-breasted tinamou mostly eats fruit. They find fruit on the ground or on small bushes. They also enjoy tiny amounts of invertebrates (like insects), flower buds, and soft leaves. Sometimes, they eat seeds and roots too.
Reproduction and Family Life
When it's time for new tinamous to hatch, the male bird takes charge. He sits on the eggs to keep them warm. These eggs might even come from up to four different females! After the eggs hatch, the male raises the young birds. He cares for them until they are ready to live on their own. This usually takes about two to three weeks. The nest is built on the ground. It's often hidden in thick bushes or between large tree roots.
Where Do They Live?
This bird lives in the Andes mountains. You can find it in the far western part of Venezuela. It also lives in central Colombia, Ecuador, and southern Peru.
Their Home Environment
The tawny-breasted tinamou is a ground bird. It prefers to live in wet mountain forests. These forests are usually found at high altitudes. They live anywhere from 1,700 to 3,350 meters (5,577 to 10,990 feet) above sea level.
Protecting the Tawny-Breasted Tinamou
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) keeps track of how many of these birds there are. They have listed the tawny-breasted tinamou as "Least Concern". This means there are still many of them, and they are not in immediate danger. The area where they live is estimated to be about 110,000 square kilometers (42,471 square miles).
