Seriemas

Seriemas are unique, large, terrestrial birds belonging to the Cariamidae family and are native to South America, particularly Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, inhabiting grasslands and open woodlands. The family comprises two species: the larger red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata) and the smaller black-legged seriema (Chunga burmeisteri), both characterized by their long legs, necks, and tails, but with short wings more suited to running than flying. These birds are mostly brown, with distinctive crests, and are known for their loud calls. They forage on foot, eating insects, reptiles, and small animals, often using their sharp claws to kill or break prey. While they can fly short distances and roost in trees, they spend most of their time on the ground and even build their large stick nests in trees at accessible heights. Seriemas are solitary outside of the breeding season and are territorial during it. Both sexes build the nest and care for their young, starting with two or three eggs per clutch, but it is mostly the females who incubate the eggs. The young mature at four to five months old. These birds share an evolutionary lineage with the extinct 'terror birds' and other prehistoric species, but the existing fossil record of seriemas is scarce.