Moustached Turka

It is a stocky bird, 23-24 cm long, with a heavy bill and strong legs and feet. The tail is often held cocked. The plumage is mostly brown with white barring on the breast, belly and undertail-coverts. The bird has a dark eyestripe, white eyebrow and a broad white moustachial stripe. The bill and legs are black. The northern race atacamae is smaller and paler with less obvious barring on the underparts.

The Moustached Turka is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Unfortunately a Moustached Turka called but remained invisible, but as we returned to the vehicle a Chilean Pigeon or two flew over, all in all a very successful visit. A little further along the road a roadside lake brought us to another halt and among the large numbers of Chiloe Wigeon and Yellow-billed Pintail were the odd Lake Duck, Great Grebe, White-winged Coot and Stilts. A long drive followed but eventually after negotiating a number of road works we arrived at the coast. More