English - Limpkin
Portuguese - Carão
Latin - Aramus guarauna
I first saw this Limpkin at REGUA (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) I saw it a couple of times in the wetlands (yellow trail) at the reserve but in all cases it was at a distance. Seemed to be very shy and could only photograph it from a along way away. It wasn’t until I went to the Pantanal that I managed to get some close up shots of the Limpkin. They seem to be an abundant species in the Pantanal and saw them on a regular basis. Both photos were taken along MS 184 which is a long straight dirt road in the heart of the Pantanal. I think It’s quite a strange looking bird and an easy bird to spot because it’s quite a big bird but also there is nothing that really resembles it.
* The Limpkin is the only extant species in the genus Aramus and the family Aramidae.
* They can get up to 73 cm in length, with a wingspan just over 1 metre. They can weigh up to 1,3 kgs.
* Males and females look alike but the male is slightly larger.
* They are found in the extreme southeastern United States through the Greater Antilles and down through Mexico to Argentina.
* They live in habitats such as woody freshwater swamps and marshes.
* Limpkin feeds mainly on freshwater large apple snails but also mussels, lizards, frogs, insects, crustaceans and worms.
* Males gives loud “kyaoh-kyaoh”, a rolling “krrrrh” or “kerr-rr-rr-owh”, a shorter “kyow” or “kaah”, and when disturbed, a sharp “bihk-bihk”. Female is relatively silent. She may utter a short “gon”, used in response to mate’s calls or intrusions.
* Female lays 5 to 7 eggs, which are incubated for up to 28 days. Chicks fledge after 13 week. They can have up 3 broods a year.
* They perform a broken-wing display if necessary to distract predators away from a nest site.
* The Limpkin is not globally threatened. Locally common with extensive distribution. Therefore they are classified as a species “of least concern”. They do have however many natural and man made threats. Adults are preyed upon by alligators. Eggs are eaten by snakes, crows, raccoons and other aquatic mammals. They also have to contend with habitat loss of wetland converted to agriculture. Pollution of fresh water habitats. Invasive exotic aquatic plants which degrade their natural prey in rivers and lakes.
English - Capped Heron
Portuguese - Garça-real
Latin - Pilherodius pileatus
At REGUA (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) the Capped Heron is a very common species to see. You will see plenty when you walk around the wetlands (yellow trail) at the reserve. They are quite shy of human presence but if you are quite enough as you walk around the wetlands you can get reasonably close to them without disturbing them. They would be the most common heron to see during the day around the wetlands. Other types of herons at the reserve tend only to roost at the wetlands at night. The Capped Heron would have been one of the birds I photographed most at the reserve only because of the numbers that are located there. As most wildlife, best photographed in bright sunlight to enhance the colours that the attractive bird has.
* The Capped Heron is around 60 cm in length and weighs up to 550 grm
* They are found in Panama, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.
* They are found in forested swamps, river courses and small pools. Although they seem adaptable to any habitat with water.
* Capped Herons feed in shallow water or at water edges, feeding on very small fish, amphibians and aquatic insects and larvae.
* They utters honks, harsh sounds and brief croaks.
* Not a lot of info in known about its breeding habits but the female lays from 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 26-27 days.
* The Capped Heron has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for a Vulnerable rating under the range-size criterion. Nevertheless, it occurs in very low densities and is considered “rare” in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. They appear to be adaptable and may be expanding its use of man-made habitats. However, given that it is mainly a riverine forest species, the loss of this habitat due to logging and conversion of forest to pasture might pose long-term threats.
English - Bare-faced Curassow
Portuguese - Mutum-de-penacho
Latin - Crax fasciolata
I guess I was lucky staying in a hotel that had so much birdlife within its grounds when we were staying in the Pantanal. Passo do Lontra Parque Hotel was the hotel and the Bare-faced Curassow was just one of the species that was a common sight within the grounds. They were quite approachable as long as you didn’t get up close and personal with them. They did tend to stick to the shaded parts of the grounds which is understandable as temperates were getting up to 37-38 degrees. Would have loved to photograph them in bright sunlight but none the less feel fortunate to have got reasonable close to them. I saw them most days I stayed at the hotel. Mainly in the morning as they were foraging for food.
* The Bare-faced Curassow can get to lengths of up to 85 cm in length and weigh up to 2.8 kgs
* The male is mainly bluish / black with a mainly yellow beak.
* The female has mainly black and white upper parts and pale buff under parts with an all black beak.
* The Bare-faced Curassow is found from eastern Amazonia south through central Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina.
* They frequents humid, semi-deciduous forest and gallery forest. They are often seen at woodland edges.
* They mainly forage for fruit that have fallen from trees onto the ground. They also eat seeds, flowers and invertebrates.
* The male Bare-faced Curassow gives low-pitched booming, similar to the sound produced by blowing across the mouth of an empty bottle. The female utters low-pitched notes, in order to maintain vocal contact with her mate.
* The female usually lays two eggs that are incubated for about 30 days. The chicks are precocial at hatching.
* The Bare-faced Curassow has a wide range and is fairly numerous in parts of its range, however it is subject to hunting and to the destruction of its habitat and the total population is likely to be declining quite rapidly. Therefore the Bare-faced Curassow is classified as ”vulnerable” on the IUCN red list.
