Least Seedsnipe

The least seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus) is a xerophilic species of bird in the Thinocoridae family. It breeds in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. They are common across South America and have been recorded in Ecuador, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay, Brazil, and as far away as Antarctica. The range of the least seedsnipe is estimated to be about 1,300,000 km2. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and pastureland, but it can be found in habitats ranging from sandy beaches to the open steppe, and even some open deserts in northern Chile. == Etymology == The least seedsnipe was described in 1829 by Eschscholtz. The genus name comes from Greek thin-, thinos- (θινος) 'sand' or 'desert' and Latin 'corys' (from Greek κορυδος) 'lark'. The species name comes from Latin rumicis 'sorrel' and vorā 'eater'. == Taxonomy == There are three subspecies of the least seedsnipe: T. r. cuneicauda, (Peale, 1848): southwest Ecuador & coastal Peru T. r. bolivianus, (Lowe, 1921): southern Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile & northwestern Argentina T. r. rumicivorus, (Eschscholtz, 1829): Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego == Description == The least seedsnipe is the smallest member of the Thinocoridae family. They have short tails…