What does seriema mean?
A seriema is a tall, long-legged bird native to the grasslands and savannas of South America. Although it resembles a crane, it is not closely related to cranes and belongs to the seriema family, whose living members include the seriema and the smaller, long-legged bird called the spotted seriema. Its plumage is generally grey or brown, its legs often reddish, and a short crest rises from the back of its head. Seriemas forage on the ground for insects, small animals, and some fruit, often using their bills to disturb prey. They can deliver a powerful, alarming call, an unusual feature given the older name seriema, often explained as meaning “silent.” Their presence in open country is familiar across parts of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and neighbouring regions. The word is firmly established in English ornithological and general usage, with the regular plural “seriemas.”
nounA tall, long-legged South American bird with a greyish body, reddish legs, and a small crest. The seriema is native to open grasslands and savannas, where it hunts insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally fruit.
- A long-legged, mainly insectivorous bird of the seriema family, native to South America.
"A pair of seriemas stalked across the grassland in search of insects."
"The seriema raised its head and gave a sharp, penetrating cry."
"Seriemas are sometimes seen in small groups near cattle, which stir up insects from the soil."
The regular plural is seriemas, formed by adding -s.
"Several seriemas were feeding beside the cattle."
The seriema was once said to have a silent call, but its startling alarm note is anything but quiet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seriema come from?
The English word seriema comes from Brazilian Portuguese, which borrowed it from the Tupi seri'ema. The name is traditionally connected with a Tupi expression meaning “silent,” referring to the bird's supposed lack of voice, although seriemas in fact possess a forceful call. The word entered widespread English use through eighteenth-century natural-history writing, where it was also applied more broadly to seriema birds.
How seriema is actually used
The singular is seriema and the regular plural is seriemas. The alternative form burr-me-bur is informal and reflects an imitation of the bird's alarm call.
Easily confused with seriema
A seriema is a conspicuous, long-legged grassland bird, whereas tinamous are generally smaller, more rounded ground birds.