Nothoprocta

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Nothoprocta
Andean Tinamou (N. pentlandii)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Tinamiformes
Family: Tinamidae
Subfamily: Nothurinae
Genus: Nothoprocta
Sclater & Salvin, 1873[1]
Species

Nothoproca taczanowkii
Taczanowski's Tinamou
Nothoprocta ornata
Ornate Tinamou
Nothoprocta pedicaria
Chilean Tinamou
Nothoprocta cinerascens
Brushland Tinamou
Nothoprocta pentlandii
Andean Tinamou
Nothoprocta curvirostris
Curve-billed Tinamou

Nothoprocta is a genus of birds belonging to the tinamou family Tinamidae. They inhabit scrubland, grassland and open woodland in western South America, particularly in the Andes. They are poor fliers and spend most of their time on the ground. Their diet includes seeds and insects. They nest on the ground, laying large glossy eggs. The eggs are covered with feathers when a potential predator is nearby.

They are medium-sized tinamous, 26 to 36 cm (10–14 in) long. They have strong legs and fairly long, downcurved bills. The plumage is mostly grey-brown with intricate black, white and buff markings. The birds have loud, whistling calls.

Species list[edit]

There are at least six species in the genus. A seventh species, Kalinowski's Tinamou, Nothoprocta kalinowskii, is sometimes recognized but is more likely to be a junior synonym of Nothoprocta ornata branickii, a subspecies of the Ornate Tinamou.[2] The SACC voted to demote the Kalinowski's Tinamou, on 14 Feb 2007.[3]

Etymology[edit]

Nothoprocta comes from two old words, nothos a Greek word meaning spurious or counterfeit, and prōktos meaning hindpart or tail. This combination of words probably has to do woth the tail being small and covered with body feathers, therefore looking fake.[5]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Brands, S. (2008)
  2. ^ Krabbe, N. (2005)
  3. ^ Remsen Jr. J. V. (2006)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Clements, J. (2007)
  5. ^ Gotch, A. F. (1995)

References[edit]

  • Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978 0 8014 4501 9.
  • Gotch, A. F. (1995) [1979]. "Tinamous". Latin Names Explained. A Guide to the Scientific Classifications of Reptiles, Birds & Mammals. New York, NY: Facts on File. p. 183. ISBN 0 8160 3377 3.
  • Krabbe, Niels & Schulenberg, Thomas S. (2005). "A mystery solved: the identity and distribution of Kalinowski's Tinamou (Nothoprocta kalinowskii)", Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 125(4): 253-260<
  • Mata, Jorge R. Rodriguez; Erize, Francisco & Rumboll, Maurice (2006). A Field Guide to the Birds of South America: Non-Passerines, HarperCollins, London.
  • Perrins, Christopher, ed. (2004). The New Encyclopedia of Birds, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Remsen Jr., J. V. (14 Feb 2007). "Proposal (#246) to South American Classification Committee : Eliminate Kalinowski's Tinamou Nothoprocta kalinowskii from the list of South American species". South American Classification Committee. American Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 04 Feb 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)


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