FALL AND WINTER DIET AND HABITAT PREFERENCES OF THE ANDEAN TINAMOU (NOTHURA-PENTLANDII) IN THE NORTHWEST ARGENTINA

The diet and habitat preferences of the Andean Tinamou Nothura pentlan dii were examined in the northwest Argentina, during fall and winter 1 986-87 by examining 110 crop samples. Fifty-five plant foods were iden tified, 26 of which exceeded 1% by volume; these together comprised ne arly 80% of all food. Another 11 items comprised less than 1% each, to talling an additional 4.6%. The principal genera were Paspalum, Bidens , Panicum, Setaria, Sida and Tagetes, weeds which invade stubbles or g row in farming border areas and roadsides. Twenty four animal foods we re identified, 10 of which exceeded 0.1% by volume; these together com prised nearly 7.0% of all food. Stubble used for grazing provide high food availability in fall and winter. The Andean Tinamou is a generali st and opportunist forager and the data emphasize the need for mixed v egetative types in the habitat of this bird.