Least seedsnipe

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Least seedsnipe
Thinocorus rumicivorus 29836816.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Thinocoridae
Genus: Thinocorus
Species:
T. rumicivorus
Binomial name
Thinocorus rumicivorus
Thinocorus rumicivorus map.svg

The least seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus) is a xerophilic species of bird in the Thinocoridae family.

Contents

It breeds in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. They are common across South America and have been recorded in Ecuador, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay, Brazil, and as far away as Antarctica. [2] The range of the least seedsnipe is estimated to be about 1,300,000 km2.

Its natural habitats are temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and pastureland, but it can be found in habitats ranging from sandy beaches to the open steppe, and even some open deserts in northern Chile. [3] [4]

Etymology

The least seedsnipe was described in 1829 by Eschscholtz. The genus name comes from the Greek thin-, thinos- (θινος) 'sand'or 'desert' and Latin 'corys' (from Greek κορυδος) 'lark'. [5] The species name comes from Latin rumicis “sorrel” and vorā “eater”. [6]

Taxonomy

There are three subspecies of the least seedsnipe: [7]

Description

The least seedsnipe is the smallest member of the Thinocoridae family. [8] They have short tails and long pointed wings. Their legs and toes are a dull greenish yellow. The beak of the least seedsnipe is an ashy color and is conical like that of a finch or a sand grouse. [4] [9] Adult males have a gray face, neck, and breast, and have black lines at the center of the throat that form an inverted “T” shape. [2] The eyes are a dark gray color. [9]

Behavior

Male seedsnipe will commonly perch on a prominent bush or fence post to deliver nuptial calls that sound like a series of a “rapid pu-pu-pu-pu-pu”s, very similar to that of the Common Snipe. [10]

Seedsnipes are well-adapted to arid environments and show no increases in water loss between 20 and 36 °C. The thermoneutral zone extends from 33 to 38 °C in this species, but they have the capacity to dissipate heat through evaporative water loss up to 42 °C. Their metabolic rate is 38% lower than other non-passerine birds of similar body mass (~50 g), reducing the contribution to the total heat budget. [4]

Nesting

Only the female incubates the eggs. The average clutch size of the least seedsnipe is four eggs laid in a simple nest scrape, which the female buries using her feet (rather than her bill, as is seen in some African Charadrii) whenever she leaves the nest. If loose, dry plant material is available, she will use this to cover the hatchlings until her return. This behavior appears to have arisen independently in Thinocoridae. The primary purpose for nest covering in Thinocorus rumicivorus is most likely concealment from predators, but thermoregulation probably also plays a factor. [11]

Diet

As the common name suggests, least seedsnipes rely mostly on seeds, but they will also eat leaves and buds and as such are strictly vegetarian in their natural habitat. However, in captivity they have been known to eat mealworms. Unlike most Charadriiformes, least seedsnipes possess a crop, a gizzard and long intestinal caeca. They have been observed foraging from a crouched position, rapidly snapping off plants and swallowing the fragments whole. They also stretch to bite off the top of grasses and tall herbs and are well-suited to browsing. [12] They derive most if not all of their water needs from succulent plants and are only very rarely seen drinking water. [4] [8] They visit the beds of Calceolaria uniflora (Scrophularaceae) and feed on the fleshy growths on the lower lips of the flower and in the process transfer pollen across flowers. [13]

Status and conservation

This species has an extremely large range and is one of the most common birds of southern Patagonia. According to the IUCN, the population appears stable. It has therefore been labeled as species of Least Concern. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charadriiformes</span> Order of birds

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic (seabirds), others frequent deserts, and a few are found in dense forest. Members of this group can also collectively be referred to as shorebirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wader</span> Birds of the order Charadriiformes

Waders or shorebirds are birds of the order Charadriiformes commonly found wading along shorelines and mudflats in order to forage for food crawling or burrowing in the mud and sand, usually small arthropods such as aquatic insects or crustaceans. The term "wader" is used in Europe, while "shorebird" is used in North America, where "wader" may be used instead to refer to long-legged wading birds such as storks and herons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seedsnipe</span> Family of birds

The seedsnipes are a small family, Thinocoridae, of small gregarious waders which have adapted to a herbivorous diet. The family is divided into two genera, Attagis and Thinocorus, each containing two species. The family has a South American distribution, in the Andean and Patagonian regions. The relationships with other families within the order Charadriiformes are uncertain; it has been suggested that the plains wanderer of Australia, the jacanas and the painted snipes are their closest relatives. The plains wanderer in particular has a similar feeding ecology, although differs markedly in breeding biology. The family's common name is misleading, as they do not resemble true snipe, having short bills on small heads, and seeds do not form a major part of the diet. One species Thinocorus rumicivorus is however known to feed on the fleshy flower petal appendages of Calceolaria uniflora, a species of Scrophularaceae. In the process of feeding on these sugar rich appendages, they also pollinate the flowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andean condor</span> South American bird in the New World vulture family

The Andean condor is a giant South American Cathartid vulture and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It has a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m and weight of 15 kg (33 lb). It is generally considered as the largest bird of prey in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-bellied seedsnipe</span> Species of bird

The rufous-bellied seedsnipe is a bird in suborder Scolopaci of order Charadriiformes, the shorebirds. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wattled jacana</span> Species of bird

The wattled jacana is a wader which is a resident breeder from western Panama and Trinidad south through most of South America east of the Andes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crested duck</span> Species of duck native to South America

The crested duck or South American crested duck is a species of duck native to South America, the belonging to the monotypic genus Lophonetta. It is sometimes included in Anas, but it belongs to a South American clade that diverged early in dabbling duck evolution. There are two subspecies: L. specularioides alticola and L. specularioides specularioides. The Patagonian crested duck is also called the southern crested duck and its range lies in the Falklands, Chile, and Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-tailed hawk</span> Species of bird

The rufous-tailed hawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pied plover</span> Species of bird

The pied plover, also known as the pied lapwing, is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae. It is a bird of least concern according to the IUCN and can be found in northern South America. The species name cayanus refers to Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, where the pied plover can be found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puna ibis</span> Species of bird

The Puna ibis is a species of bird in the family Threskiornithidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Its natural habitats are swamps, marshes and lakes, and most of its range is in the Andean highlands, including the puna, but locally it occurs down to sea level. It has been domesticated by the Uru people for meat and eggs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chucao tapaculo</span> Species of bird

The chucao tapaculo is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is found in central Chile and adjacent Argentina; it has also been recorded in Chile's Magallanes Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-rumped swallow</span> Species of bird

The white-rumped swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. First described and given its binomial name by French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1817, it was for many years considered a subspecies of the Chilean swallow. The species is monotypic with no known population variations. It has a white supraloral streak, or streak above its lores, which can be used to differentiate it from the Chilean swallow. The lores, ear coverts, tail, and wings are black, with white tips on the inner secondaries, tertials, and greater coverts of the wings. The rest of the upperparts are a glossy blue. Its underparts and underwing-coverts are white, in addition to the rump, as the name suggests. The sexes are similar, and the juvenile is duller and browner with a dusky breast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean swallow</span> Species of bird

The Chilean swallow is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It breeds in Chile and Patagonia, migrating north as far as Bolivia, Paraguay, and Rio Grande do Sul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silvery grebe</span> Species of bird

The silvery grebe is a species of grebe in the family Podicipedidae. It is found in the western and southern part of South America at altitudes of up to 4,000 metres (13,000 ft). Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes but it also feeds in saline lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied seedsnipe</span> Species of bird

The white-bellied seedsnipe is a species of bird in suborder Scolopaci of order Charadriiformes, the shorebirds. It is found Argentina and Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peruvian thick-knee</span> Species of bird

The Peruvian thick-knee is a species of bird in the family Burhinidae. It is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and pastureland. It is a ground-dwelling bird and feeds on insects and small animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-breasted seedsnipe</span> Species of bird

The grey-breasted seedsnipe is a species of bird in the family Thinocoridae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

Ana Lake is a Patagonian lake in the Pali-Aike National Park, San Gregorio, Magallanes Region, Chile.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Thinocorus rumicivorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22693046A93380643. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693046A93380643.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Favero, M., & Silva, M. P. (1998). First Record of the Least Seedsnipe Thinocorus rumicivorus in the Antarctic. Ornitologia Neotropical, 10, 107-109.
  3. ↑ Lane A. A. (1897) Field notes on the birds of Chili. Ibis 3, 297-3 17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ehlers, R., and M. L. Morton (1982). Metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in the Least Seed-Snipe Thinocorus rumicivorus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 73A:233–235.
  5. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names" . Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. ↑ “Thinocorus.”(2016). Animalia: Etymology of Animal Names. Web. Available at http://metazoa.us/thinocorus/. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Grebes, flamingos, buttonquail, plovers, painted-snipes, jacanas, plains-wanderer, seedsnipes". World Bird List Version 9.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  8. 1 2 Castro, F., J. Castro, A. R. Ferreira, M. A. Crozariol, and A. C. Lees (2012). A first documented Brazilian record of Least Seedsnipe Thinocorus rumicivorus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Thinocoridae). Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 20:455–457.
  9. 1 2 Grant, C. H. (1911). List of Birds collected in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Southern Brazil, with Field‐notes. Ibis, 53(3), 459-478.
  10. ↑ Miller, E. H. (1996). Nuptial vocalizations of male Least Seedsnipe: Structure and evolutionary significance. The Condor, 98(2), 418-422.
  11. ↑ Maclean, G. L. (1974). Egg-covering in the Charadrii. Ostrich, 45(3), 167-174.
  12. ↑ Korzun, L. P., C. Érard, J.-P. Gasc, and F. J. Dzerzhinsky (2009). Adaptation of seedsnipes (Aves, Charadriiformes, Thinocoridae) to browsing: a study of their feeding apparatus. Zoosystema 31:347–368. doi: 10.5252/z2009n2a7
  13. ↑ Sérsic, A. N.; Cocucci, A. A. (1996). "A Remarkable Case of Ornithophily in Calceolaria : Food Bodies as Rewards for a Non-nectarivorous Bird*". Botanica Acta. 109 (2): 172–176. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.1996.tb00558.x.
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