Brown Tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus. Chocolate brown eggs. Good Ground Dwellers Undulated Tinamou, C. undulatus. Vinaceous-pink eggs. Variegated Tinamou, C. varie­ for Cage and Aviary gatus. Purplish-vinaceous eggs. by D. Grenville Roles Elegant Crested Tinamou, Eudro­ Tracy Aviary, salt Lake City, Utah mia elegans from Chile and Argen­ tina, is probably the commonest rep­ I would like to take a moment to It may come as a surprise to some resentative of the family in captivity tell you a little about Tracy Aviary in that there are terrestrial representa­ in North America, and is quite an Salt Lake City. tives in many families which are attractive and easily maintained bird Covering some sixteen and a half known primarily for their arboreal which lays avocado-green eggs. acres, well wooded and with a mean­ members. Thus there are ground dering series ofponds along its north­ parrots, ground thrushes, ground White-faced Tree Ducks, ern border, Tracy Aviary occupies the cuckoos, ground doves, ground jays, Dendrocygna viduata. southwest corner of Liberty Park in ground creepers and even ground One of the least aquatic waterfowl. downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. rollers. Distributed over two continents .. Founded April 14, 1938, we are Additionally, there are other groups (Africa and South America). Very believed to be the oldest, purely of birds which have developed char­ vocal with a whistling voice. Nests in avian, publicly owned zoological col­ acteristics which make them resem­ both hollows and dense vegetation, 8 lection in the world and with a popu­ ble predominantly terrestrial families. to 12 eggs, shared incubation, simple lation of 900 birds of 210 species, we Thus we have pheasant pigeons, quail diet and easy to maintain. are currently the fifth largest zoologi­ thrushes, partridge pigeons and quail Brush Turkey, Alectura lathami, cal bird collection in the country. finches. Australia. We have a very diverse collection, Just to confuse the picture, we also Incubator birds are a family of 6 gen­ being particularly strong in Gallina­ have members of predominantly ter­ era of 11 species. This species has to ceous species and waterfowl and have restrial families which have aberrant be the ugliest but is also the most 23 species of endangered birds repre­ arboreal or other habits, giving us common in captivity. Named for their sented, most ofwhich are breeding. tree partridge and tree ducks and habit of having their eggs incubated We have a very active and success­ finally the doubly misnamed Bustard by artificial means, either the sun's ful education department, which last Quail (Pedionomus torquatus) which heat, fermentation or even volcanic year saw over 100,000 persons at the is neither bustard nor quail. action. The chicks are the most pre­ various programs conducted by avi­ I shall cover briefly the natural cocial of all birds and hatch able to fly ary staff. We also support a free flying history of each group and their cap­ and independent ofparental care. bird show which is actually one of tive requirments. In this particular species, the male the best in the country. For the most part, the following makes a huge nest ofscraped up vege­ Founded by a donation of privately birds can be kept on a standard game­ tation, whose internal temperature is owned birds and mammals over 50 bird diet supplemented with meal­ controlled by the excavation and years ago, Tracy Aviary is funded and worms and chopped fruit and greens. replacement of the decaying vege­ owned by Salt Lake City Corporation. There are some exceptions, but these table matter and dirt, of which the should be obvious. nest is built. His entire life is spent in Emu. Dromaius maintenance of the nest, the hens Good Ground Dwellers only appearing to deposit their eggs, for Cage andAviary novaehollandiae. Australia. Male grunts, female booms, common which can take up to nine weeks to This article is directed to those peo­ hatch. ple who prefer to keep their birds in and abundant in the wild. An naturalistic surroundings and who extremely rare white mutation is kept Razor-billed Currasow, Crax mitu, enjoy observing their birds behaving at Fleays Fauna Reserve in Queens­ Amazon Basin. Endangered species. as they would in the wild. land. Great Curassow, Crax rubra, Some of you may immediately per­ Tinamou. A family of 9 genera, 48 Mexico to Ecuador. ceive a contradiction with the title of species. Primitive ground birds super­ Large birds, both arboreal and terre­ this article in that''how can you keep ficially resembling quail and inhabit­ strial. Nest in trees, clutch two to a ground-dweller in a cage, natu­ ing a wide range of habitats. Feed on three. New World only, related to rally?" ObViously, size is the factor, seeds, berries and insects. Nest on the guans and chachalacas of which one and tiny terrestrials can be kept well ground. Eggs 8 to 12 in clear, vivid species, the Plain Chachalaca, in cages. colors with a hard porcelain gloss. Ortalis vetula, is native to the U.S.A. I propose to list a variety of extra­ Incubation is by the male only with (Texas). ordinary and exotic ground-dwellers an incubation period of about 21 Blue Grouse, Dendragapus in the hope of expanding interest in days. Young are highly precocious. obscurus, Rocky Mountains. these different and very diverse Species range from southern Mexico Sage Grouse, Centrocercus uropha­ groups, which can be compatably to Patagonia. Some of the species are: sianus, western North America. accommodated with many other Highland Tinamou, Nothocercus Heavily built gallinaceous birds inha­ groups ofbirds. bonapartei. Aqua-blue eggs. biting the temperate regions of the I personally always feel that Grey Tinamou, Tinamus tao. northern hemisphere. Some species unoccupied floor space is wasted Greenish-blue eggs. are highly polygamous with elaborate space and could be put to good use Great Tinamou, T. major. Turquoise social and courtship behavior. Legs aviculturally. eggs. are feathered to the toes (including 30 February I March 1991 J the toes in some species). The birds are mostly vegetarian but some insects are taken. Both of these spe­ cies can be found in Utah. All grouse are challenging to keep well in captiv­ ity, typically being kept on wire with a large proportion of rabbit pellets in their diets. ew World quail are generally ground nesting seedeaters which are compat­ Experience able with most birds, although their habit of perching to roost can be a tlEKTOtl! nuisance at times. Long-tailed Quail or Partridge, The most Benefits. Dendrortyx macroura, Central America. per Dollar. This bird is extremely rare in captiv­ ity, being represented by only a single specimen at a collection in Texas. FOR INFORMATION ON Mountain Quail, Oreortyx picta, NEKTON·S AND OUR OTHER Pacific U.S.A., Washington and Cali­ FINE PRODUCTS CALL. .. fornia. NEKTON U.S.A. Valley Quail, Lophortyx califor­ 14405· 60th 51. North· Clearwater, FL 34620 nica, Midwest U.S.A. (813) 530·3500

Gambel's Quail, L. gambelii, Mid­ IN CANADA Canavlax Products· 41 Links Rd.· west U.S.A. and lower California. Wlllowdale (Toronto) Ontario Benson's Quail, L. douglasii, West­ M2P 1T7 Canada. (416) 223·1165 ern Mexico Bobwhite Quail, Colinus virgini­ .- .. anus, .S.A., Mexico, Central Amer­ ica and West Indies. Colombian Crested Quail, c. cris­ tatus, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia and Guyanas. Mearn's Quail, Cyrtonyx montezu­ mae, southwest U.S.A. and Mexico. Sand Partridge, Ammoperdixheyi, Egypt, Israel and southern Arabia. Birds of the semi-desert, recently brought to this country by San Diego Zoo where they have bred very well. Small and sexually dimorphic, larger than a quail but smaller than a par­ tridge, they are primarily a seed and berry eater. Himalayan Snowcock, Tetraogal­ ius himalayensis, Western Himalayas. Magnificent, large, partridge-like birds. Dig extensively for roots and bulbs, also crop grass and bushes. Can be very territorial and aggressive to both keepers and mate. Alectoris family. Birds in the main of southern Europe, Asia Minor and north Africa, these extremely hand­ some, beautifully plumaged birds are often overlooked by aviculturists. These birds are simple to maintain, hardy, easy to breed and with the ability to become quite tame and confiding, they are certainly worth considering. HIGH NUTRIENT FORMULA Chukar Partridge, Alectoris chukar FOR BREEDING, MAINTENANCE Red-legged Partridge, A. rufa AND CONDITIONING Photos on nextpage Text continues onpage 46 afa WATCHBIRD 31 Good Ground Dwellers for Cage and Aviary c o (/) Q. E o ..c l- ei roQ) o 06 Q) (J) -0o o o Q) o(J) Q) C) E o(/) (5 ..c 0..

The Chuckar Partridge is easy to maintain and breed in captivity. Most partridges and quail are worth considering as aviary birds.

The elegant Plumed Dove (above)) from Australia) requires thickfoliage to provide hidingplaces as they can be quite aggressive to each other.

The Victorian Blue-crowned Pigeon is a beautiful addition to any aviary. This photo shows an adult with a youngster in their nest.

Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui) near her eggs.

Although not common) severalpittas) including the Giant Pitta (at left) are sometimes available. These beautiful colored birds are sometimes called Jewel Thrushes.

32 February / March 1991