Seriema (Cariama cristata)

BirdGrasslandSouth America

Overview

Seriemas (family Cariamidae) are tall, long-legged birds of South American grasslands and open woodland. The red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata), shown here, stands knee-high to a person, with long legs, a hooked bill, a bushy crest at the base of the bill, and striking reddish legs. Although they can fly, seriemas spend most of their time striding and running across open country, hunting on foot.

Remarkably, seriemas are the closest living relatives of the extinct “terror birds” (phorusrhacids) — giant flightless predatory birds that once dominated South America — making them a living link to that lost group.

Note: there are two seriema species; details here use the red-legged seriema as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Seriemas live in grasslands, savannas, cerrado, and open woodland of central and eastern South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Uruguay. They favour open country with scattered trees and bushes, where they can hunt over the ground and retreat to cover or low trees to roost.

Diet

Seriemas are carnivores that hunt a wide range of prey on the ground: insects and other invertebrates, lizards, snakes (including venomous ones), frogs, rodents, and small birds, plus some plant matter. They are known for tackling snakes, and they sometimes kill larger prey by seizing it and beating it against the ground or hard surfaces.

Behavior

Seriemas hunt by walking and running across open ground, striking at prey with the hooked bill and strong feet. They have an enlarged, sickle-shaped claw on the second toe — an echo of their predatory ancestry — though they use it less dramatically than their extinct giant relatives did. Their loud, yelping, far-carrying calls are a characteristic sound of the South American plains. Seriemas are often seen in pairs, nest in low trees or bushes, and prefer to run from danger, taking flight only reluctantly.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Seriemas are conspicuous, well-loved birds of the open country and are sometimes even kept around farms, where their loud alarm calls and snake-hunting make them useful. They are widespread and not generally of conservation concern, though they depend on open grassland and savanna habitats. Consult authoritative sources for current status.

More photos of the seriema