A bird of the family Cariamidae, exclusive to South America, with a single living relative species (the Black-legged Seriema, Chunga burmeisteri). Brown plumage with a whitish belly and a collar of long, curly feathers on the neck and nape. The head has a very striking crest of long, erect feathers. The legs are long and an intense bright red. The face is bare and red. The bill is long and hooked. It measures 75 to 90 cm. Perfectly adapted to terrestrial life in the grasslands of the Chaco and Iberá.
Behaviour
Entirely terrestrial. It runs at great speed through the grasslands but can also fly clumsily at low height. An active predator: it captures snakes (even venomous ones), lizards, large insects, frogs and small rodents. When it catches a snake, it beats it violently against the ground or rocks to stun it. It lives in pairs for life and gives a strident cry that is heard from a great distance.
How and when to see it
Year-round. One walks slowly through the grasslands at dawn and dusk in the portals with dry fields and tall grasslands.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where red-legged seriema has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where red-legged seriema lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Gaucho Argentino
Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0 - Salvaje Iberá
Senderismo, cicloturismo, safari fotográfico, avistaje de fauna, paseos largos en el día…★ 5.0 - Excursiones Yetapá (Eduardo Alegre)
Excursiones por el Iberá con base en San Miguel, a cargo del guía habilitado Eduardo…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameRed-legged Seriema
- Scientific nameCariama cristata
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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