The Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) have a very distinctive call that can be heard over a mile away; they are also one of the few birds who have eyelashes! Like the black-legged seriema, farmers often use them as guard animals to protect poultry from predators and sometimes human intruders.
Habitat: The Red-legged Seriema are found in Brazil, Uruguay and Artgentina.
Population: The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) evaluate the Red-legged Seriema as ‘Least Concern’.
Lifespan: The average lifespan in captivity is 20 to 25 years.
Diet: They are omnivorous and will eat a range of insects, lizards, frogs, snakes and small rodents.
Behaviour: Although these birds can fly short distances, they prefer to run away from predators and can run up to 15mph. They have a unique way of killing their prey; they pick it up in their beak and throw it forcefully onto the ground until it is stunned or dead.
The Park is now closed. Please keep an eye on our website news section and via our social media sites for updates on the animals during lockdown and through the winter.
