Pteroptochos megapodius

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Tyranni
Infraordo: Tyrannides
Parvordo: Furnariida
Superfamilia: Formicaroidea

Familia: Rhinocryptidae
Genus: Pteroptochos
Species: Pteroptochos megapodius
Subspecies: P. m. atacamae – P. m. megapodius
Name

Pteroptochos megapodius Kittlitz, 1830

Type locality: Valparaíso, Chile.

References

von Kittlitz, F.H. 1830. Über einige Vögel von Chili beobachtet im März angfang April 1827. Mémoires présentés à l'Académie impériale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg par divers Savans et lus dans ses assemblées 1: 173–194; pl. I–XII. BHL Reference page. Original description p. 182 BHL pl. 4 BHL

Vernacular names
English: Moustached turca
español: Huet-huet turca
magyar: Nagylábú törökmadár

The moustached turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) is a passerine bird which is endemic to Chile. It belongs to the tapaculo group and is a member of the genus Pteroptochos, along with the two species of Huet-huet.

Description

It is a stocky bird, 23–24 cm long, with a heavy bill and strong legs and feet. The tail is often held cocked. The plumage is mostly brown with white barring on the breast, belly and undertail-coverts. The bird has a dark eyestripe, white eyebrow and a broad white moustachial stripe. The bill and legs are black. The northern race atacamae is smaller and paler with less obvious barring on the underparts.
Behaviour and ecology

The song is a series of low, hooting notes lasting for 5 to 10 seconds. Birds often call while perched on top of a rock. The nest is built at the end of a tunnel up to two metres long which is dug in an earth bank or roadside cutting. Two or three white eggs are laid.
Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies is found in central Chile from northern Bío-Bío Region north to Coquimbo Region. The isolated form atacamae occurs in Atacama Region. Both inhabit arid slopes with rocks and shrubbery from sea level to high in the foothills of the Andes, reaching 3700 metres in the north. It is a mainly ground-dwelling bird which can run quickly. It feeds on invertebrates such as insects and worms.
References

BirdLife International (2016). "Pteroptochos megapodius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22703431A93922705. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22703431A93922705.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.

Jaramillo, Alvaro; Burke, Peter & Beadle, David (2003) Field Guide to the Birds of Chile. Christopher Helm, London.
Aves de Chile: Moustached Turca