Photo: Gabriel Barrera Maffioletti / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Moustached Turca
Pteroptochos megapodius
Moustached Turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
The Moustached Turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) is a member of the Rhinocryptidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 114 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos
- Genus Pteroptochos
- Species megapodius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 114 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Moustached Turca is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Moustached Turca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Moustached Turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n, c Chile.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 114 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 7.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 112,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Moustached Turca?
The Moustached Turca is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 114 g.
Where does the Moustached Turca live?
The Moustached Turca is found across South America with a range covering SA n, c Chile, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Moustached Turca belong to?
The Moustached Turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) belongs to the Rhinocryptidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Moustached Turca eat?
The Moustached Turca is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Moustached Turca migrate?
The Moustached Turca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Moustached Turca endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Moustached Turca make?
1 real field recording of the Moustached Turca — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Moustached Turca's range?
The Moustached Turca has a mapped global range of about 112,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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