Black-legged Seriema Chunga burmeisteri Scientific name definitions

The Black-legged Seirema is one of only two species in the distinctive family Cariamidae, which is endemic to the Chaco region of central southern South America, in Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. Apart from the larger Red-legged Seriema (Cariama Cristata), the Black-legged Seriema is a  very unique bird, with a short, curved bill, and long, powerful legs Black-legged Seriema is largely terrestrial, although they are capable of short bursts of flight and will often sit in low trees and bushes, where they built their nests. The Black-legged Seriema travels alone or in pairs in wooded chaco, where its loud, raucous calls can be a dominant feature of the morning chorus. Both Seriemas specialize eating snakes and lizards, but are omnivorous and will take seeds and large insects.

70–85 cm; 1·2 kg. Predominantly grey above, with paler underparts, especially towards rear. Similar to partially sympatric <em>Cariama cristata</em> , but averages smaller and slimmer-bodied, with an inconspicuous frontal crest, black bill and legs, and dark eyes . Immature has back and upperwing-coverts spotted white; head, neck and breast distinctly barred.

S & SE Bolivia through W Paraguay to C Argentina.

Dry woodland , savanna and open forests, typically in Chaco and monte woodlands. Apparently restricted to lower altitudes than Cariama cristata, and may favour warmer temperatures.

Sedentary. Some local movements inferred in Chaco zone (see Family Text ).

In Paraguayan Chaco recorded consuming a grass (probably Cenchrus ciliaris), leguminous shoots from algarrobo trees (Prosopis alba), large grasshoppers (Acrididae), green Ameiva lizards (Ameiva ameiva), small snakes (Liophis sp.), and small unidentified passerines (1 Brook, D.M. (2014). Ecological notes on seriema species in the Paraguayan Chaco, with observations on Chunga biology. Rev. Bras. Orn. 22(2): 234–237. Close ). Stomachs of a few specimens from Tucumán, NW Argentina, contained beetles, grasshoppers, an entire rodent, green leaves, grass and a few hard seeds . Has been observed near cattle and horses, and may benefit by increased availability of insects disturbed by them. Tame birds ate mainly arthropods, including grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetle larvae, spiders and myriapods, as well as water snails, small frogs, lizards, bats, mice and dead rats and birds; also fruits and green leaves; the corpse of a large bird was beaten against ground before being swallowed.

Often sings  in early morning, a descending, slightly tinny-sounding “cou, cou, cou-cou-cou”, sometimes with the final notes run together, and may be given in more raucous, squawking and antiphonal duet  . One bird singing often stimulates those in neighbouring territories to also start up in response (2 de la Peña, M. R. (1992). Guía de Aves Argentinas. Volume 2. Second edition. Falconiformes-Charadriiformes. Literature of Latin America, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Close ).

In Paraguayan Chaco, breeds in local summer, season starting Nov–Dec; in Argentina, young caught in Dec. Constructs loose stick nest in trees or bushes, usually low above ground (2 de la Peña, M. R. (1992). Guía de Aves Argentinas. Volume 2. Second edition. Falconiformes-Charadriiformes. Literature of Latin America, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Close ). Clutch 2–3 white eggs marked with grey, mean 52 mm × 46 mm (2 de la Peña, M. R. (1992). Guía de Aves Argentinas. Volume 2. Second edition. Falconiformes-Charadriiformes. Literature of Latin America, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Close ). Tipically 1 chicked raised, but 2 recorded once (1 Brook, D.M. (2014). Ecological notes on seriema species in the Paraguayan Chaco, with observations on Chunga biology. Rev. Bras. Orn. 22(2): 234–237. Close ). No further information available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Little information available, but species has been considered common in Argentina. However, even here local extinctions have been reported, e.g. in parts of Córdoba province (3 Dardanelli, S., D. A. Serra, and M. Nores (2006). Composición y abundancia de la avifauna de fragmentos de bosque de Córdoba, Argentina. Acta Zoologica Lilloana 50(1–2):71–83. Close ). As with Cariama cristata, however, true numbers may be difficult to estimate due to often heard far-carrying voice; densities are probably low in general, e.g. 0·38 birds/km² recorded in Paraguayan Chaco (1 Brook, D.M. (2014). Ecological notes on seriema species in the Paraguayan Chaco, with observations on Chunga biology. Rev. Bras. Orn. 22(2): 234–237. Close ). At least at beginning of 20th century, eggs were collected and adult birds hunted for food by natives of N Argentina and W Paraguay.