Moustached Turca

Overview

The moustached turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) is a stocky passerine bird endemic to Chile. It belongs to the tapaculo family and is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. As a terrestrial species, it primarily inhabits the foothills of the Andes.

Identification

• Approximately 22.5 cm long with disproportionately large feet.
• Mostly cinnamon brown plumage featuring white barring on the breast, belly, and undertail-coverts.
• Distinctive white broad stripes on the sides of the throat, resembling a moustache.
• Dark eyestripe, white eyebrow, and black bill and legs.
• Song consists of low, hooting notes lasting five to ten seconds.

Habitat

This species is found in the foothills of the Andes in Chile, typically between sea level and 2,000 metres, though non-reproductive individuals have been observed up to 3,200 metres. It prefers hillsides with some shrubs and low tree cover, often in areas with low soil moisture. The isolated atacame subspecies is restricted to semi-desert regions in the Atacama Region characterised by scattered rocks and boulders.

Diet

The moustached turca feeds mostly on invertebrates such as insects and earthworms. It also consumes seeds and fruits, foraging by displacing rocks and searching near plants.

Did you know?

The species' scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek for "big feet", reflecting its disproportionately large feet relative to its body size. It creates nesting tunnels between 0.4 and 2.2 metres deep in earth banks on steep rocky hillsides, relying on the slope rather than vegetation to protect the entrance.