The Bedford Estates, London
Overview
Woburn Safari Park is home to one red legged seriema, a male, called Diego.
Diego likes to demonstrate to our audiences how he kills a plastic snake, by hitting it against the ground. He also likes to stride around the arena showing off his long red legs!
All about us
| Distribution: | Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina |
|---|---|
| Habitat: | Grasslands, meadows, rivers and streams |
| Height: | 75 - 90cm |
| Weight: | Up to 1.5kg |
| Lifespan: | 20 to 25 years in captivity |
| Threats: | Persecution from farmers |
About us
Scientific name: Cariama cristata
The red legged seriema is an unusual bird, found in South America. They are thought to be a relative of the crane, but could also be closely related to cuckoos, falcons, or parrots. It is still a widely disputed question.
The red legged seriema is a distinctive and large bird, weighing up to 1.5kg, and reaching nearly a metre tall. Their colouration provides camouflage in the tall grasses they inhabit, and they will often choose to lie down in the grass when threatened instead of running.
The seriema is famous for its unique way of killing its prey. When killing a large prey item, such as a snake, they will pick it up in their beak and forcefully throw it at the ground, until it is stunned or dead. They are also referred to as the ‘crested seriema’ due to the large crest of feathers on their head. This is where their scientific name also comes from, as ‘cristata’ is Latin for ‘crested one’.
