The black-capped tinamou (''Crypturellus atrocapillus'') is a type of tinamou commonly found in the moist forest lowlands in subtropical and tropical regions.

Taxonomy

All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also

ratite A ratite () is any of a diverse group of flightless, large, long-necked, and long-legged birds of the infraclass Palaeognathae. Kiwi, the exception, are much smaller and shorter-legged and are the only nocturnal extant ratites. The systematics ...

s. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003) The black-capped tinamou has two subspecies as follows: * ''C. a. atrocapillus'', nominate race, occurs in the lowlands of southeastern Peru. * ''C. a. garleppi'' in the lowlands of northern

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

.Clements, J (2007)

Etymology

''Crypturellus'' is formed from three Latin or Greek words. ''kruptos'' meaning "covered" or "hidden", ''oura'' meaning "tail", and ''ellus'' meaning "diminutive". Therefore, ''Crypturellus'' means small hidden tail.

Description

The black-capped tinamou is approximately in length. Its upper-parts are brown, mottled and barred blackish, throat and neck are rufescent, breast is dark grey, and the remainder of underparts are cinnamon to buff. Its cap is blackish and legs could be pale red or bright red. The females are more heavily barred above.

Behavior

Like other tinamous, the black-capped eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes. They also eat small amounts of invertebrates, 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.

Range and habitat

It is found in moist forest lowlands in subtropical and tropical regions up to altitude. This species is native to southeastern Peru and northern

. Has recently been recorded in Brazil.BORGES, L. H. (2013). A1036257, Crypturellus atrocapillus (Tschudi, 1844) Wiki Aves - A Enciclopédia das Aves do Brasil

Retrieved August 18, 2013

Conservation

It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of .BirdLife International (2008)(a) It is rated as least concern status by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

Footnotes

References

BirdLife Species Factsheet
* * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1266435 Crypturellus Tinamous of South America Birds of Bolivia Birds of Brazil Birds of Peru Birds described in 1844