Zoologger | 台北市立動物園資訊網

2010年7月14日—Onthefaceofit,thegreattinamouisthestupidestbirdontheplanet.Despitelivingonthegroundindenseforestsrifewithpredators,itlaysbright ...

Safety in numbers

(Image: Cagan Sekercioglu)

Species: Tinamus major[1]

Habitat: tropical forests of Central and South America[2]

On the face of it, the great tinamou is the stupidest bird on the planet. Despite living on the ground in dense forests rife with predators, it lays bright turquoise eggs that can only be described as conspicuous. Why does it advertise its vulnerable young in this way?

Birds are normally pretty smart about protecting their offspring. They usually nest high in trees where few predators can reach; some build elaborate nests that are hard to break into. Species that nest on the ground usually produce camouflaged eggs that blend in with the background. But ...