Black Tinamou
Encyclopedia
The Black Tinamou is a species of ground bird found in humid foothill and montane
forest in the Andes
of South America
. This threatened species
is among the largest tinamou
s.
s. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds. The species was described in 1949 by Henry Boardman Conover
based on a specimen
from Cusco
in Peru
.
It has two subspecies
:
of one specimen.
by the IUCN with a range occurrence of 11600 km² (4,478.8 sq mi). In 2004 it was estimated that less than 10,000 remained. There are few recent records from Colombia. It was formerly described as locally common in Peru, but is now rare in that country. The Black Tinamou has been recorded in several reserves, notably the Megantoni National Sanctuary
, Manú National Park
and Sira Communal Reserve
in Peru, Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park
in Ecuador, and the Cueva de los Guácharos National Park
in Colombia.
The Black Tinamou is threatened by deforestation
or los of habitat caused by human settlement expansion, agricultural expansion, road-building, oil exploration in Peru, and it is hunted for food. Even within reserves, hunting and habitat loss are ongoing.
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
forest in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. This threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
is among the largest tinamou
Tinamou
The tinamous are a family comprising 47 species of birds found in Central and South America. One of the most ancient living groups of bird, they are related to the ratites. Generally ground dwelling, they are found in a range of habitats....
s.
Taxonomy
All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratiteRatite
A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanan origin, most of them now extinct. Unlike other flightless birds, the ratites have no keel on their sternum—hence the name from the Latin ratis...
s. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds. The species was described in 1949 by Henry Boardman Conover
Henry Boardman Conover
Boardman Conover was an American soldier and amateur ornithologist.Conover was born in Chicago and studied at the Sheffield Scientific School in Yale. He had an interest in natural history from an early age, and collected bird specimens...
based on a specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
from Cusco
Cusco Region
Cusco is a region in Peru. It is bordered by the Ucayali Region on the north; the Madre de Dios and Puno regions on the east; the Arequipa Region on the south; and the Apurímac, Ayacucho and Junín regions on the west...
in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
It has two subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
:
- T. o. hershkovitzi: Almost entirely restricted to the ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Andes, where found at altitudes between 1400 and 2100 m (4,593.2 and 6,889.8 ft). It is known from the west slope of the East Andes in the Huila DepartmentHuila DepartmentHuila is one of the departments of Colombia. It is located in the southwest of the country, and its capital is Neiva.-Geography:The south of the department is located in the Colombian Massif...
, and San José de la FraguaSan José de la FraguaSan José de la Fragua is a town and municipality in Caquetá Department, Colombia....
on the east slope of the East Andes in the Caquetá Department. Reports from the northern Central Andes in the Antioquia DepartmentAntioquia DepartmentAntioquia is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range...
in Colombia, and the north-eastern Andes in the NapoNapo ProvinceNapo is a province in Ecuador. Its capital is Tena. The province contains the Napo River. The province is low developed without much industrial presence. The thick rainforest is home to many natives that remain isolated by preference, descendents of those who fled the Spanish invasion in the Andes,...
and Sucumbíos ProvinceSucumbíos ProvinceSucumbíos is a province in northeast Ecuador. The capital and largest city is Nueva Loja . It is the fifth largest province in the country, with an area of 18,009 km²...
s in EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
likely also involve this subspecies. - T. o. osgoodi: Found on the east slope of the Peruvian Andes in CuzcoCusco RegionCusco is a region in Peru. It is bordered by the Ucayali Region on the north; the Madre de Dios and Puno regions on the east; the Arequipa Region on the south; and the Apurímac, Ayacucho and Junín regions on the west...
, PunoPuno RegionPuno is a region in southeastern Peru. It is bordered by Bolivia on the east, the Madre de Dios Region on the north, the Cusco and Arequipa regions on the west, the Moquegua Region on the southwest, and the Tacna Region on the south...
, Madre de DiosMadre de Dios RegionMadre de Dios is a region in southeastern Peru, bordering Brazil, Bolivia and the Peruvian regions of Puno, Cusco and Ucayali. Its capital is the city of Puerto Maldonado. The name of the region is a very common Spanish language designation for the Virgin Mary, literally meaning Mother of...
, and HuánucoHuánuco RegionHuánuco is a region in central Peru. It is bordered by the La Libertad, San Martín, Loreto and Ucayali regions on the north; the Ucayali Region on the east; the Pasco Region on the south; and the Lima and Ancash regions on the west. Its capital is the city of Huánuco.Huánuco has a rough topography...
. It is mainly found at altitudes of 900 to 1400 m (2,952.8 to 4,593.2 ft), but locally occurs up to 2100 m (6,889.8 ft).
Description
This species is a large, blackish tinamou. All parts of its body are blackish in color except its sooty brown belly and rufescent vent with black speckling. Black Tinamous are 40 to 46 cm (15.7 to 18.1 in) long, with females being a little larger than males. It has a mournful voice with a tremulous and descending whistle lasting about one second.Behavior
Virtually nothing is known about the behavior of the Black Tinamou, but it is likely similar to that of its relatives. Nuts have been found in the cropCrop (anatomy)
A crop is a thin-walled expanded portion of the alimentary tract used for the storage of food prior to digestion that is found in many animals, including gastropods, earthworms, leeches, insects, birds, and even some dinosaurs.- Bees :Cropping is used by bees to temporarily store nectar of flowers...
of one specimen.
Reproduction
The only nest known was on the ground and contained 2 glossy blue eggs. In Peru, adults in breeding condition have been recorded between March and November, and a chick was found in February.Conservation
The Black Tinamou is rated as VulnerableVulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
by the IUCN with a range occurrence of 11600 km² (4,478.8 sq mi). In 2004 it was estimated that less than 10,000 remained. There are few recent records from Colombia. It was formerly described as locally common in Peru, but is now rare in that country. The Black Tinamou has been recorded in several reserves, notably the Megantoni National Sanctuary
Megantoni National Sanctuary
Megantoni National Sanctuary is a protected area in Peru situated in the Cusco Region, La Convención Province, Echarate District. It protects a part of the Peruvian Yungas ecoregion.- External links :*...
, Manú National Park
Manú National Park
Manú National Park is a biosphere reserve located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before becoming an area protected by the Peruvian government, the Manú National Park was conserved thanks to its inaccessibility. The park remains fairly inaccessible by road to this day. In 1977, UNESCO...
and Sira Communal Reserve
El Sira Communal Reserve
The El Sira Communal Reserve is a protected area in Peru created on 22 June 2001 and located in three regions: the Huánuco Region , the Pasco Region and the Ucayali Region .- External links :*...
in Peru, Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park
Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park
Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park is a protected area in Ecuador situated in the Napo Province, Orellana Province and Sucumbíos Province.- External links :* * *...
in Ecuador, and the Cueva de los Guácharos National Park
Cueva de los Guácharos
The Cueva de los Guácharos National Park , created in 1960, is the oldest of the 51 protected areas of Colombia. The park is located in the western face of the Colombian Eastern Andean Range in the departments of Huila and Caquetá...
in Colombia.
The Black Tinamou is threatened by deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
or los of habitat caused by human settlement expansion, agricultural expansion, road-building, oil exploration in Peru, and it is hunted for food. Even within reserves, hunting and habitat loss are ongoing.