Aves da Pátria da Leari - Sociedade Brasileira de Ornitologia

105
400g
Porphyrula martinica (Linné, 1776)
Purple Gallinule
Aves da Pátria da Leari
The intensely bright blue adult lives hidden within vegetation where it reproduces. It differs from the common
gallinule because it is rarely seen in open areas, preferring the safety inside the dense vegetation. It has a bluish
coloring on the shield above its beak and the legs are yellow. It can be seen perched on rush branches. The
species is migratory and much less abundant than the common gallinule.
Família Cariamidae
Cariama cristata (Linné, 1766)
Red-Legged Seriema
This long-legged bird is well known in local Caatinga communities and feeds on insects, rodents, lizards and
snakes. Its large bowl-shaped nest made of twigs is usually located two or three meters above ground. Two
eggs are laid. These birds are often encountered on country roads and run for a long time in front of the oncoming
car before leaping off into the vegetation lining the road. Its call can be heard from far off and the birds are
very territorial and defend fiercely against the incursions of neighboring groups.
CHARADRIIFORMES ORDER
Jacanidae Family
Jacana jacana jacana (Linné, 1758)
Wattled Jacana
This is a common and abundant species of which the male is markedly smaller than the female. The male is responsible
for incubating the eggs. The eggs are chestnut Brown colored with yellow streaks. We have seen up
to five eggs being laid. During copulation, the male uses its long toes to support himself on the female’s back.
The species is distributed around rivers, lakes and marshy areas in the Caatinga. When flooded areas used by
the wattled jacana dry up, they migrate to other more humid areas.The juveniles have a yellowish coloring.
Measurements: Total length 230mm, wing 120mm, tail 36mm, tarsus 59mm, beak 27mm, weight 98g/120g.
Charadriidae Family
Vanellus chilensis lampronotus (Wagler, 1827)
Southern Lapwing
This is the most common representative of this family and always occurs in open areas. The nest is a cavity
which contains little material and the birds generally lay three to four eggs although we have come upon a
nest with seven eggs. As soon as they hatch, the chicks are quite active but when warned by their parents of a
possible predator, they remain motionless for long periods of time. To throw off possible nest predators nests,