Nothoprocta is agenus ofbirds belonging to thetinamou family Tinamidae. They inhabitscrubland,grassland and openwoodland in westernSouth America, particularly in theAndes. They are poor fliers and spend most of their time on the ground. Their diet includesseeds andinsects. They nest on the ground, laying large glossyeggs. The eggs are covered with feathers when a potential predator is nearby.
They are medium-sized tinamous, 26 to 36 cm (10–14 in) long. They have strong legs and fairly long, downcurvedbills. Theplumage is mostly grey-brown with intricate black, white and buff markings. The birds have loud, whistling calls.
There are at least six species in the genus. A seventh species,Kalinowski's tinamou,Nothoprocta kalinowskii, is sometimes recognized but is more likely to be ajunior synonym ofNothoprocta ornata branickii, a subspecies of theornate tinamou.[2] TheSACC voted to demote the Kalinowski's Tinamou, on 14 Feb 2007.[3]
Nothoprocta comes from two Ancient Greek words:nothos meaning 'spurious, counterfeit', andprōktos 'anus'. This combination of words probably has to do with the tail being small and covered with body feathers, therefore looking fake.[5]
Clements, James (2007).The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.ISBN978-0-8014-4501-9.
Gotch, A. F. (1995) [1979]. "Tinamous".Latin Names Explained. A Guide to the Scientific Classifications of Reptiles, Birds & Mammals. New York, NY: Facts on File. p. 183.ISBN0-8160-3377-3.
Mata, Jorge R. Rodriguez; Erize, Francisco & Rumboll, Maurice (2006).A Field Guide to the Birds of South America: Non-Passerines, HarperCollins, London.
Perrins, Christopher,ed. (2004).The New Encyclopedia of Birds, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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