Seedsnipe
Encyclopedia
The seedsnipes are a small family
, Thinocoridae, of small gregarious wader
s 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 America
n distribution, in the Andean
and Patagonia
n regions. The relationships with other families within the order Charadriiformes
are uncertain, it has been suggested that the Plains Wanderer
of Australia
, the jacana
s and the painted snipe
s 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.
They resemble grouse
, quail
and sandgrouse
, only with long wings. The seedsnipes in the genus Thinocorus are smaller, ranging in size from a sparrow
to a snipe, whereas the genus Attagis are larger, the size of a ptarmigan. They have short legs (but long toes) and tails. The colour of their plumage
is generally cryptic
. There is some sexual dimorphism
in the plumage
of the Thinocorus species, the males have grey faces, necks and breasts.
Seedsnipes inhabit a variety of harsh environments, including grassland
s, grass steppe
s, semi-arid desert
s and alpine habitat
s. The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe
ranges as far up as to the snowline (5500 m).
Their 2–3 eggs
are laid in a shallow scrape on the ground.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Thinocoridae, of small gregarious wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s which have adapted to a herbivorous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
diet. The family is divided into two genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Attagis
Attagis
Attagis is a genus of seedsnipe, a South American family of small gregarious waders which have adapted to a vegetarian diet.These birds look superficially like partridges in structure and bill shape. They have short legs and long wings...
and Thinocorus
Thinocorus
Thinocorus is a genus of seedsnipe, a South American family of small gregarious waders which have adapted to a vegetarian diet.These birds look superficially like partridges in structure and bill shape. They have short legs and long wings...
, each containing two species. The family has a South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n distribution, in the Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
and Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
n regions. The relationships with other families within the order Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...
are uncertain, it has been suggested that the Plains Wanderer
Plains Wanderer
The Plains-wanderer or Plains Wanderer, is a bird, the only representative of its family. It is endemic to Australia. The majority of the remaining population are found in the Riverina region of New South Wales.-Description:...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the jacana
Jacana
The jaçanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. See Etymology below for pronunciation....
s and the painted snipe
Painted snipe
Painted snipes are three distinctive wader species in the family Rostratulidae. The family is composed to two genera, Rostratula and Nycticryphes. The Australian Painted Snipe is often treated as a subspecies of the Greater Painted Snipe, but morphological and genetic differences have resulted in...
s 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
Snipe
A snipe is any of about 25 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill and crypsis plumage. The Gallinago snipes have a nearly worldwide distribution, the Lymnocryptes Jack Snipe is restricted to Asia and Europe and the...
, having short bills
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
on small heads, and seeds do not form a major part of the diet.
They resemble grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
, quail
Quail
Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...
and sandgrouse
Sandgrouse
The sandgrouse are a family, Pteroclididae, of 16 bird species, the only living members of the order Pteroclidiformes. They are restricted to treeless open country in the Old World, such as plains and semi-deserts. They are distributed across northern, southern and eastern Africa as well as...
, only with long wings. The seedsnipes in the genus Thinocorus are smaller, ranging in size from a sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
to a snipe, whereas the genus Attagis are larger, the size of a ptarmigan. They have short legs (but long toes) and tails. The colour of their plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is generally cryptic
Crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
. There is some sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
in the plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
of the Thinocorus species, the males have grey faces, necks and breasts.
Seedsnipes inhabit a variety of harsh environments, including grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s, grass steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
s, semi-arid desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s and alpine habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s. The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe
Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Attagis gayi, is a wader which is a resident breeding bird in the Andes of South America south from Ecuador....
ranges as far up as to the snowline (5500 m).
Their 2–3 eggs
Bird egg
Bird eggs are laid by females and incubated for a time that varies according to the species; a single young hatches from each egg. Average clutch sizes range from one to about 17...
are laid in a shallow scrape on the ground.
Species
- Genus AttagisAttagisAttagis is a genus of seedsnipe, a South American family of small gregarious waders which have adapted to a vegetarian diet.These birds look superficially like partridges in structure and bill shape. They have short legs and long wings...
- Rufous-bellied SeedsnipeRufous-bellied SeedsnipeThe Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Attagis gayi, is a wader which is a resident breeding bird in the Andes of South America south from Ecuador....
Attagis gayi - White-bellied SeedsnipeWhite-bellied SeedsnipeThe White-bellied Seedsnipe is a species of bird in the Thinocoridae family. It is found in southern parts of Argentina and Chile and is a vagrant to the Falkland Islands. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and swamps....
Attagis malouinus
- Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe
- Genus ThinocorusThinocorusThinocorus is a genus of seedsnipe, a South American family of small gregarious waders which have adapted to a vegetarian diet.These birds look superficially like partridges in structure and bill shape. They have short legs and long wings...
- Grey-breasted SeedsnipeGrey-breasted SeedsnipeThe Grey-breasted Seedsnipe is a species of bird in the Thinocoridae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru....
Thinocorus orbignyanus - Least SeedsnipeLeast SeedsnipeThe Least Seedsnipe is a species of bird in the Thinocoridae family.It breeds in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru and has been recorded in Ecuador, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and possibly Brazil...
Thinocorus rumicivorus
- Grey-breasted Seedsnipe
External links
- Seedsnipe videos on the Internet Bird Collection