| Yellow-legged tinamou | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Crypturellus n. noctivagus | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Infraclass: | Palaeognathae |
| Order: | Tinamiformes |
| Family: | Tinamidae |
| Genus: | Crypturellus |
| Species: | C. noctivagus |
| Binomial name | |
| Crypturellus noctivagus | |
| Subspecies[2] | |
C. n. noctivagus | |
 | |
Theyellow-legged tinamou (Crypturellus noctivagus) is a species oftinamou found in wooded andshrubby habitats in tropical andsubtropical easternBrazil.[3] This superficiallyquail-like bird has a grey-brownplumage and two easily separatedsubspecies. It has declined due to human activities, and is therefore listed asNear Threatened by theIUCN.[1]
This species has two subspecies:
The yellow-legged tinamou is approximately 28 to 31 cm (11.0–12.2 in) in length. Its upperparts are grey, its lower back and wings are barred black, its neck and upper breast are greyish, its lower breast is rufous and its belly is whitish. It has a blackish cap and a buffysupercilium. The supercilium is broadest and most prominent in the racezabele, which also is paler overall, has a whiter (less rufescent) throat and brighter yellow legs than the nominate race.[4][6]
Like other tinamous, the yellow-legged tinamou eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes. They also eat small amounts ofinvertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as 4 different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually 2–3 weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.[7]
Its preferred habitat is humid forest, but thesubspecieszabele also occurs in drier wooded habitats, such as savanna-woodland andCaatinga.[4] It can be found at elevation of 700 m (2,300 ft) or less.[8]
The yellow-legged tinamou suffers from widespread and continuinghabitat destruction and hunting pressure.[8] Overall, although its numbers are decreasing they are not critical and therefore listed asNear Threatened by theIUCN.[1] It has an occurrence range of 1,470,000 km2 (570,000 sq mi).[8] There are no recent records from parts of its range, and it appears to have beenextirpated fromRio de Janeiro.[9]
