Huayco Tinamou Rhynchotus maculicollis Scientific name definitions

Huayco Tinamou is one of the most recently-recognized species in South America, recently split from the widespread Red-winged Tinamou Rhynchotus rufescens. Huayco Tinamou differs from Red-winged Tinamou in voice, range, and some minor plumage differences. Huayco Tinamous are found in central and southern Bolivia and northern Argentina, generally on the east side of the Andean crest. It favors grassy mountain ridges from about 1000 to 3300 meters in elevation.

Little research has been conducted on Huayco Tinamou, so many details of its life history remain unknown. However, given the extent of its range, estimated to be in excess of 113,000 km², BirdLife International has determined it to be a species of Least Concern.

c. 39–42 cm; male 894–913 g, female 876–962 g (1 Salvador, S. A., and A. G. Di Giacomo (2014). Datos de pesos de aves argentinas. Parte 3. Historia Natural 4(2):63–88. Close ). Large tinamou with long, decurved bill, bright fulvous neck and boldly patterned back. Similar to R. rufescens, but differs in having broadly buff-streaked (rather than narrowly buff-scaled) crown appearing as dark cap which is more continuous with neck markings, more spotty and broken facial markings, conspicuous dark spots/streaks on neck, barred breast, more extensively and broadly barred upperwing-coverts, and uniformly creamy underparts with dark bars from breast-side to flank; iris blue to yellowish; bill pinkish, usually dusky at tip (and sometimes over most of upper mandible); tarsi yellowish to gray. Sexes similar. Immature is like adult.

Commonly considered conspecific with R. rufescens, but differs notably in voice, song being at start rather similar to that of R. rufescens but finishing very differently, and appearing louder, perhaps because populations are more spread out and need to call between distant ridges (2 Maijer, S. (1996). Distinctive song of highland form maculicoIIis of the Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens): evidence for species rank. Auk 113(3): 695–697. Close ) (allow 3); in ecology, with distributions largely discrete altitudinally, and bands of unsuitable forest habitat isolating upland grassy ridges of present species from lowland grasslands preferred by R. rufescens, in both Bolivia and Argentina (2 Maijer, S. (1996). Distinctive song of highland form maculicoIIis of the Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens): evidence for species rank. Auk 113(3): 695–697. Close ) (1); and in plumage, males having broadly buff-streaked vs narrowly buff-scaled crown (latter appearing as blackish cap above plain neck, former more continuous with neck markings), facial markings more broken up and spotty (ns[1]), spotted vs plain neck and barred vs plain breast (3), more broadly and extensively barred vs more restricted and more narrowly barred wing-coverts (1), and uniformly cream underparts with dark bars from breast-sides to flanks vs pale grey breast to darkish grey vent with vague bars on lower flanks (3). Monotypic.

W Bolivia (from S La Paz) S to NW Argentina (to Catamarca and Tucumán).

Occupies semi-arid, temperate valleys with thorn-scrub and scattered trees, as well as fields of cereals, from 1000 m locally up to 3050 m.

Probably mostly animal matter in summer months, vegetable in winter (when insects scarce). Items taken include seeds, fruits, shoots, roots, tubers and bulbs, probably some crops. Animals include insects, such as termites (Isoptera) and grasshoppers (Orthoptera). May occasionally take reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.

Song  consists of two short notes  , the first modulated and the second flatter and not so loud (3 Maijer, S. (1996). Distinctive song of highland form maculicollis of the Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens): evidence for species rank. Auk. 113(3): 695-697. Close ). At start rather similar to that of R. rufescens, but terminus very different, and appearing louder, perhaps because populations more spread out and need to call between distant ridges.

Few data. Nest presumably a shallow scrape at base of tree among low vegetation.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Generally common, and locally abundant; has reasonably large range. Faces intense hunting pressure locally, especially in areas close to human habitation. Population may be declining, but not so rapidly as to give cause for immediate concern.