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
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]
Nothoprocta curvirostris curvirostris located in central
Ecuador and northern
Peru[4]
Nothoprocta curvirostris peruviana located in northern and central
Peru[4]
Etymology
Nothoprocta comes from two Ancient Greek words: nothos meaning 'spurious, counterfeit', and prōktos 'anus'. This combination of words probably has to do with the tail being small and covered with body feathers, therefore looking fake.[5]
Footnotes
^"Tinamidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
ISBN978-0-8014-4501-9.
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.
ISBN0-8160-3377-3.
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.