White-bellied Seedsnipe, ©Rodrigo Tapia, Far South Expeditions
Looking like a miniature ptarmigan in its cryptic plumage that renders it invisible when not moving, a White-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis malouinus feeds in the early morning light on its wintering grounds in the Patagonian steppe north of Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Chile. One of four species in family Thinocoridae, it has the most restricted range of them all, being found in southern Patagonia only. Despite its looks, it is related to Shorebirds, not to grouse or quails, and one of the family treats is the presence of fleshy flaps covering the nostril openings.
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