Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE CRANE-LIKE BIRDS

THE CRANES, COURLANS, AND TRUMPETERS

Crested Cariama

The larger of the two, which is known as the Crested Cariama (C. cristata), has a total length of about thirty-two inches, and is yellowish gray, with numerous narrow darker and lighter cross-bands, except on the abdomen, while the wings and tail are blackish brown with broad white cross-bars.

The forehead is ornamented with a tuft of erect plumes three inches or more long, and there is also a full pendent crest hanging down the hinder neck.

The bill is bright red, and the bare greenish blue skin surrounding the large dark yellow eyes gives it a peculiarly animated expression. The legs and feet are reddish. It is a native of the campos of the interior of Brazil, whence it extends into the open districts of Paraguay and the adjoining parts of Argentina.

It lives among the high grasses of the campos, running away, it is said, in a stooping posture to avoid discovery when approached, and taking to wing with extreme reluctance and only when actually forced to do so. It is highly regarded by the inhabitants as a destroyer of snakes, being protected by law, but it is said to feed principally upon insects and caterpillars, though occasionally eating berries and other fleshy fruits, and rarely, it would seem, snakes and other reptiles. It builds a nest in low bushes and lays two roundish, spotted, Rail-like eggs. Its loud, screaming cry is frequently heard.

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