Birds
Moustached Turca
Pteroptochos megapodius
Long before a moustached turca is seen, its loud, repeated call rings out through the dense matorral scrubland of central Chile, a large, ground-dwelling bird that would rather run through cover than take to the air.
Overview
The moustached turca, Pteroptochos megapodius, is a Least Concern bird endemic to the matorral scrubland and forest of central Chile. One of the larger members of the tapaculo family, it is built for life on the ground, with sturdy legs and a strong preference for running over flying.
Heard more than seen
A distinctive pale facial stripe gives the moustached turca its name, but it is the bird’s loud, far-carrying call that most often reveals its presence, echoing through dense undergrowth where the bird itself stays largely hidden.
Status
Least Concern, remaining common within its central Chilean range, though its long-term outlook depends on the continued persistence of matorral scrubland and forest habitat.
Moustached Turca: common questions
Why is it called the moustached turca?
It shows a distinctive pale stripe across the face resembling a moustache, a feature that gives the species its common name.
Why is the moustached turca so hard to see?
It is a shy, ground-dwelling bird that prefers to run and hop through dense scrub and undergrowth rather than fly, and it often reveals its presence through its loud, far-carrying call long before it comes into view.
What does the moustached turca eat?
It is an insectivore, probing leaf litter and soil for insects and other small invertebrates.
Where is the moustached turca found?
It is endemic to central Chile, found only in matorral scrubland and forest habitat there and nowhere else in the world.