Cariamidae - Seriemas

They are a little over two feet tall and have a long neck; long legs; a long, squared tail and a small, curved bill. They also have a unique crest at the base of their bill, and they have eyelashes! They are gray and brown on their uppersides and white on their bellies.

Seriemas aren't very good fliers, but they are great runners and can run as fast as 35 mph! They have an unusual call that can be heard for miles and sounds like a yelping puppy. They eat insects, birds, small mammals and reptiles. They eat small prey whole. They hold larger prey with their claws and rip it apart. They may also beat their prey on the ground or throw it onto a rock!

Cariamidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Other Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North/Central America South America NH Species
Red-legged Seriema - Cariama cristata		Black-legged Seriema - Chunga burmeisteri