White-bellied Nothura

Overview

The white-bellied nothura is a species of tinamou found in dry shrublands across northeastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, and northeastern Brazil. It belongs to the family Tinamidae, which are ratites capable of flight but generally not strong fliers.

Identification

• Approximately 27 cm in length with light brown upper parts barred black and streaked white.
• White belly and throat, with a buff breast and foreneck featuring black streaking.
• Bright yellow legs and uniformly dark inner webs on the primaries, distinguishing it from the spotted nothura.

Habitat

This species prefers dry shrubland regions up to 500 m in altitude, though it also inhabits dry grassland, savanna, caatinga, and occasionally pastures. Its range extends across northeastern and central Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and Paraguay.

Diet

Foraging on the ground or from low-lying bushes, it feeds primarily on fruit. Its diet also includes small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots.

Did you know?

The male is solely responsible for incubating eggs that may originate from as many as four different females. He then raises the chicks until they are independent, a process that typically lasts two to three weeks.