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Theristicus caudatus
The curicaca is a bird of the order Pelecaniformes, family Threskiornithidae. Its scientific name means: (Greek) theristikos, theistron = tool to collect, harvest, sickle; and (Latin) caudatus = referring to tail. ⇒ Bird with sickle-shaped beak and short tail. Distinguishable by light-colored, broad wings and long, curved beak. Displays light gray back, with greenish glow, black remiges and rectrices; part of the upper wing coverts is whitish, forming a light spot on the upper side of the wing visible during flight. The male is usually slightly larger than the female, reaching 69 cm in length and about 143 cm wingspan.
Present in much of Brazil where there is open vegetation and ponds, fields in marshy or periodically flooded ground, and in Marajó Island (Pará), Pantanal and Ceará. Also found in Paraguay, northern Argentina, northern Uruguay and part of Bolivia. It feeds during the day and also at the sunset. It has varied diet consisting of insects and larvae, centipedes, small lizards, rats, snails, insects, spiders and other invertebrates, amphibians and small snakes, and even smaller birds. Its beak, long and curved, is adapted to extract larvae of beetles and other insects of soft earth. It is one of the few predators that do not bother with the toxins released by granular toad (Bufo granulosus), so this toad can be part of its diet.
Curicacas build their nests in large, tall trees, or even on large rocks in the fields, usually laying from 2 to 4 eggs. This couple was building theirs at the top of a 20 meters tall araucaria tree.
6 Comments
Superb!
Thank you Dr Namgyal, obrigado Antonio.
Great shots, Sergio!
Great series Xar?a congrats and thanks for sharing
Thank you Ava.
Lovely!