Taczanowski's Tinamou Nothoprocta taczanowskii Scientific name definitions

This high-altitude tinamou is an uncommon and probably local inhabitant of the eastern slope of the Andes in southern Peru, and adjacent La Paz department, in Bolivia. It is currently treated as Vulnerable by BirdLife International, as reported sightings are generally few, although the species should be easily identified, if seen well, given its unusually long, decurved bill, large size, and principally gray appearance. The Taczanowski’s Tinamou is found in mosaics of cloud forest, scrub, pastures, and open rocky or grassy areas, mainly in humid or semi-humid montane areas, but also just above the treeline, between at least 2700 and 4000 m. Scrub or woodland is speculated to be a prerequisite for this species, but it will visit agricultural areas to feed, e.g on tuber crops, especially potatoes.

32·5–36 cm. Distinctive tinamou with long curved bill, dull breast and pale abdomen. Has dark cap, each feather largely black with some dull brown barring and thin buffy-white lateral fringe; hindneck and upper mantle dull brown with small black-framed buffy-white spots, feathers of rest of upperparts dull brown with broad black bars, some variegations, and buffish-white lateral stripes, rearmost upperparts with reduced black markings; upperwing-coverts dull brown with blackish and pale buff bars, remiges fuscous with buff or whitish barring on outer webs; face and side of head pale dull brown with whitish and black spots or lines, notably a black moustachial stripe and another black line over ear-coverts; chin and throat to upper foreneck whitish with some brownish mottling, rest of neck and breast light greyish-brown, sometimes strongly tinged with grey, and mottled or short-barred with whitish spots more or less outlined with blackish; underparts light tawny, whitish on central abdomen, rather weakly barred on sides and flanks; iris brown or chestnut; bill blackish above, largely brownish below; legs yellow. Sexes alike. Immature has chest and upperparts much browner, flanks light brown with black spotting, and bars on remiges more ochraceous.

C & SE Peru (Junín, Apurímac and Cuzco; E Andes of Puno); recently found in Bolivia (La Paz) (1 Vogel, C.J. (2002). Additional records of Taczanowski’s Tinamou Nothoprocta taczanowskii in Bolivia. Cotinga 17: 80–81. Close ).

Areas of cloudforest with scrub, fields, pasture and open grassy or rocky areas in humid or semi-humid montane areas, and recorded also at or just above tree-line; at 2700–4000 m. Typically found in open woods of Polylepis and in areas with the huge Andean bromeliad Puya raimondii. Probably requires presence of some scrub and/or woodland.

Presumably sedentary.

Little information. Often feeds on tuber crops, especially potatoes.

When flushed, emits loud “cuyy cuyy”. No other information.

Few data. Season mainly Apr–May; in Peru, eggs and chicks recorded in Apr and May (Junín) and Oct (Puno).

VULNERABLE. Uncommon to rare, and apparently local (2 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2007). Birds of Peru. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ). In Peru, recent records from several localities in Apurímac, Cuzco and Puno, although not recorded in Chincheros–Pampa Valley area (NW Apurímac) since 1970, and only one definite record from Cordillera de Huanzo (S Apurímac), in 1977; recorded from Maraynioc area of Junín in 1939, but current status there not known (probably no surveys since that time). This species was first recorded in Bolivia in 1999, when one male and three or four juveniles were found in Apolobamba National Integrated Management Reserve (extreme W La Paz) (3 Vogel, C.J., Herrera, M. and Olivera A., M.A. (2001). First record of Taczanowski’s Tinamou (Nothoprocta taczanowskii) for Bolivia Ornitología Neotropical. 12(2): 181-182. Close ); in 2000, a further three sightings, involving several adults, were made at an additional locality within the reserve (4 Vogel, C. J. (2002). Additional records of Taczanowski’s Tinamou Nothoprocta taczanowskii in Bolivia Cotinga. 17: 80-81. Close ). In many parts of its range, especially in places close to human habitation, this species is hunted intensely for food. It is also adversely affected by habitat loss brought about by the frequent burning of grassland, and by cutting and burning of, and grazing in, high-altitude Polylepis woodland and shrubby patches. On the other hand, it benefits from the clearing of tropical forests, which often creates habitats suitable for the species (4 Vogel, C. J. (2002). Additional records of Taczanowski’s Tinamou Nothoprocta taczanowskii in Bolivia Cotinga. 17: 80-81. Close ). It occurs in few protected areas; recorded in Ampay Forest National Sanctuary (Apurímac), in Peru, and Apolobamba National Integrated Management Reserve (La Paz), in Bolivia.