Red-legged Seriema
Cariama cristata
Seriemas (Cariamidae) · Cariamiformes (Cariamiformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Red-legged Seriema with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi | 1 |
Family
The seriemas are the sole living members of the small bird family Cariamidae (the entire family is also referred to as "seriemas"), which is also the only surviving lineage of the order Cariamiformes. Once believed to be related to cranes, they have been placed near the falcons, parrots, and passerines, as well as the extinct Phorusrhacidae (terror birds). The seriemas are large, long-legged territorial birds that range from 70–90 cm (28–35 in) in length.
Order
Cariamiformes (or Cariamae) is an order of primarily flightless birds that has existed for over 50 million years. The group includes the family Cariamidae (seriemas) and the extinct families such as Phorusrhacidae, Bathornithidae, Idiornithidae, and Ameghinornithidae. Extant members (seriemas) are only known from South America, but fossils of many extinct taxa are also found in other continents including Europe and North America.