A Cariama cristata Adult
Kingdom: Animally
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cariamae
Family: Cariamidae
Genera: Cariama cristata
Species: Chunga burmeisteri

The Seriema species have defied all odds to hold to their natural habitats to date. They belong to ancient family referred to as the Cariamidae. The entire family is extinct but for the Seriemas. That is not all. The family of the Cariamidae is also the sole extant species belonging to the family of the Cariamae. Naturalists once believed that the Seriema was related to cranes but recent studies have classified them closer to falcons, passerines and parrots.

We have two species of the Seriema namely:

• The red-legged Seriema (also called Cariama cristataor), which is found from around eastern Brazil region up to the central Argentina region. The Cariama cristata is relatively bigger and usually nests above the ground, within a bush or up to 3m on a tree.
• The Chunga burmeisteri or black-legged Seriema (which is found around northwest Argentina and in some areas of Paraguay. Relatively small, the black-legged Seriema usually nests high on a tree.

Species Description

Both the red-legged and black-legged Seriemas are around 80 cm long though the red-legged Seriema is relatively wider than the Black-legged one. They mainly forage using their legs. Both prefer running on foot rather than fly, especially when in danger, since they can only fly for short distances. To reflect this adaptation, the Seriemas have long and strong legs, long necks and defined tails. Their wings are however very short. The red-legged Seriema favors habitats that are grasslands like while black-legged Seriema prefers scrub or open woodland habitats.

Feeding Habits

The Seriemas usually give high pitched yelping calls that are often heard long before you see them. These calls are frequent when the carnivorous Seriemas are on a feeding mission. They usually feed on snakes, insects, lizards, rodents, frogs and young birds. However, the Seriemas will occasionally feed on small amounts seeds such as maize, beans etc. The Seriemas will often associate with any grazing livestock so as to prey on the insects the grazing animals disturb.

T o kill the prey (i.e. small reptiles) the Seriemas beat it on the ground or throw it against a hard surface. This usually breaks the bones of such reptiles besides killing them. 0nce dead, the Seriemas will simply swallow the prey whole. If however the prey is way too large for the bird to swallow whole, a Seriema will ripped it into smaller pieces by holding it with the beak and tearing with the sickle claws.

Reproduction

Most Seriemas reside in bulky stick nests built on trees or in bushes depending on the habitat. After the nest is completed they will lay 2-3 buff or white eggs. The eggs have sparse brown and purple spots. The female Seriema undertakes most of the incubation once the eggs are laid, which normally last between 24-30 days. After the incubation, the hatchlings are usually pretty downy though they stay within the nest for another two weeks. By the third week, the hatchlings can easily jump and follow their parents down from the nest. Most Seriemas reach their full maturity within 4-5 months.

Conclusion

Some people usually tame young Seriema birds alongside their poultry with an intent of warding off predators. The two Seriema species are currently not considered to be under any threat of extinction. However, environmentalists have noted their declining populations consequent to habitat destruction and hunting.