White-throated tinamou

Tinamus guttatus

Photo by Ulrich Schmid (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
white-throated tinamou (en); inhambu-galinha (pt); tinamou à gorge blanche (fr); tinamú moteado (es); weißkehltinamu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Tinamiformes
Family Tinamidae

Range:
This species is found from south-eastern Colombia, through eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru, and into northern Bolivia and into Brazil along the Amazon river basin from Amazonas and Rondônia east to Pará and Maranhão.

Size:
These birds are 32-36 cm long. The males are smaller than females, weighing 620-650 g while females weigh 680-800 g.

Habitat:
The white-throated tinamou is found in primary tropical rainforests, mainly in terra firme areas from sea level up to an altitude of 500 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on seeds, also taking fruits and some invertebrates such as ants.

Breeding:
White-throated tinamous breed in March-October. The female lays 4-6 bright turquoise eggs on the ground. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. However, it is it threatened by accelerating deforestation in Amazonia as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network, and a model of Amazonian deforestation predicts 17-23% of suitable habitat will be lost over the next 2 decades. Given its susceptibility to hunting and trapping, the white-throated tinamou is suspected to decline by 25-30% in the near future.

Little tinamou

Crypturellus soui

Photo by João Quental (Wiki Aves)

Common name:
little tinamou (en); tururim (pt); tinamou soui (fr); tinamú chico (es); brauntinamu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Tinamiformes
Family Tinamidae

Range:
This species is found from southern Mexico down to Bolivia and Brazil as far south as Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.

Size:
These birds are 20-24 cm long and weigh 170-250 g.

Habitat:
The little tinamou is mostly found in moist tropical forests, also using moist tropical scrublands, second growths and plantations such as pines, coffee, bananas, cassava and sugarcane. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, taking seeds, berries, insects and occasionally frogs. The seeds taken include Panicum, Paspalum, Scleria, Amaranthus, a spurge, oxalis, mallow, grape, passionflower, Styrax, and Solanum. They are known to hunt cockroaches, ants, termites, beetles, bugs and caterpillars.

Breeding:
Little tinamous can breed all year round. The nest is a small scrap on the forest floor, usually under a thick scrub and sometimes lined with leaves. There the female lays 1-2 glossy purple eggs, which the male incubates alone for 16-20 days. The chicks leave the nest within 24 h of hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 0,5-5 million individuals. The little tinamou is suspected to lose 18-23% of suitable habitat within its range over the next 2 decades based on a model of Amazonian deforestation. Given its susceptibility to hunting and trapping, it is therefore suspected to suffer a small decline in the near future.

Slaty-breasted tinamou

Crypturellus boucardi

Photo by Brad Weinert (Flickr)

Common name:
slaty-breasted tinamou (en); inhambu-de-Boucard (pt); tinamou de Boucard (fr); tinamú pizarroso (es); graukehltinamu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Tinamiformes
Family Tinamidae

Range:
This species is found from southern Mexico to Costa Rica.

Size:
These birds are 27-28 cm long and weigh 470 g.

Habitat:
The slaty-breasted tinamou is mostly found in tall rainforests with a high canopy, occasionaly also using degraded parches of former forests. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.


Diet:
They forage on the ground, taking fruits and seeds, as well as insects such as ants and termites. Occasionally, frogs and lizards are also consumed.


Breeding:
Slaty-breasted tinamous breed in January-April. They are polygynandrous, with males mating with 2-4 females, which afterwards go on to mate with other males. Each female lays 2-3 eggs on the ground, among thick vegetation or near the base of a tree, with different females using the same nest, which can hold up to 12 eggs. The male incubates the eggs alone for 16 days. The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and follow the male around until they become independent 18-20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 20.000-50.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction caused by logging and plantation cutting, as well as hunting. However, the slaty-breasted tinamou is not considered threatened at present.

Puna tinamou

Tinamotis pentlandii

Photo by Rodrigo Moraga (World Bird Info)

Common name:
puna tinamou (en); tinamú-da-puna (pt); tinamou quioula (fr); perdiz de la puna (es); punasteißhuhn (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Tinamiformes
Family Tinamidae

Range:
This species is found in high altitude areas of the Andes, from southern Peru and western Bolivia to northern Chile and north-western Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 39-45 cm long and weigh around 900 g.

Habitat:
The puna tinamou is found in high-altitude grasslands and sometimes also in scrublands, at altitudes of 3.500-5.300 m.

Diet:
They feed on buds, leaves, shoots, flowers and grasses.

Breeding:
Puna tinamous do not construct a nest or scrape, simply laying their eggs on the ground under the shelter of some vegetation. The female lays 4-8 green eggs with yellowish spots. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods, but after hatching the chicks gather in groups composed of young from several broods which are attended by several males.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Ornate tinamou

Nothoprocta ornata

Photo by Silvia Vitale (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
ornate tinamou (en); tinamú-serrano (pt); tinamou orné (fr); inambú serrano (es); Pisaccasteißhuhn (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Tinamiformes
Family Tinamidae


Range:
This species is found in the Andes of of central and southern Peru, western Bolivia, north-western Argentina and northern Chile.


Size:
These birds are 26-32 cm long and weigh 440-760 g.


Habitat:
The ornate tinamou is mostly found in high altitude grasslands, scrublands and arable land, at altitudes of 2.500-4.800 m.


Diet:
They are omnivorous, feeding on clovers and other small leaves, buds, blossoms, fruits, berries, roots, pods, seeds, and sprouting seeds, but also taking beetles and caterpillars as well as grasshoppers and ants.


Breeding:
Ornate tinamous breed in December-August. Unlike other tinamous they are monogamous. They nest on the ground, in a substantial structure made of circularly wrapped grass and resting on a foundation of dry earth or a mixture of earth and mossy turf. The female lays 4-9 glossy violet-chocolate colour eggs, which the male incubates alone for 22-24 days. The chicks leave the nest within 24h of hatching and readily follow the father around while foraging by themselves.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The ornate tinamou is thought to be the most heavily persecuted species in the Andes and is heavily hunted throughout its range. Eggs are also taken by local people and predation by dogs can occur, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Elegant crested tinamou

Eudromia elegans

Photo by Aline Wolfer (Oiseaux d'Argentine)

Common name:

elegant crested tinamou (en); tinamú-de-poupa (pt); tinamou élégant (fr); martineta (es); perlsteißhuhn (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Tinamiformes

Family Tinamidae

Range:

This South American species is found throughout most of Argentina and into Bolivia and Chile.

Size:

These birds are 39-41 cm long and weigh 660-710 g.

Habitat:

The elegant crested tinamou is found in arid and semi-arid environments including savannas, rocky steppes, dry scrublands, dry grasslands and pastures, and in farmland.

Diet:

These birds have a diversified diet, eating plant sprouts, seeds, fruits, insects and other invertebrates and larvae.

Breeding:

Elegant crested tinamous breed in June-November. They nest in a shallow depression on the ground, hidden among tall grasses, where the female lays 5-9 emerald-green eggs. The eggs are incubated by the male for 19-21 days and the precocial chicks are able to feed by themselves soon after hatching, but remain with the male for 4-6 weeks. They can produce up to 3 broods per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. Although still abundant in remoter parts of its range, the species has declined appreciably in many parts of its range owing to hunting pressure and a reduction in suitable habitat.

Chilean tinamou

Nothoprocta perdicaria

Photo by Rodrigo Tapia (Neotropical Birds)

Common name:

Chilean tinamou (en); tinamú-do-Chile (pt); tinamou perdix (fr); perdiz chilena (es); Chilesteißhuhn (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Tinamiformes

Family Tinamidae

Range:

This South American species is mostly found in Chile, from the southern parts of Atacama to Ñuble. It may also be present in adjacent parts of Argentina and was introduced in Eastern island in the 19th century.

Size:

The Chilean tinamou is 29-30 cm long and weighs 160 g.

Habitat:

These birds are mostly found in high altitude scrubland, natural pastures and arid mountain forests in association with such trees as Acacia caven, Porlieria chilensis and the endangered Jubaea chilensis. They can also be found in orchards, agricultural areas, fallow land and even wheat and canola fields. Chilean tinamous are present at altitudes of 400-2.000 m.

Diet:

Chilean tinamous eat a wide variety of seeds as well as ground insects and some crustaceans.

Breeding:

These birds nest on the ground, in a scrape lined with grasses and feathers. There the female lays 5-12 chocolate-coloured eggs, which the male incubates alone for about 21 days. The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching but remain with the parent for several weeks.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a relatively large breeding range and his described as fairly common. Numbers have been much reduced in recent years, especially in the north of its range, where it is now scarce. It is the most prized game-bird in Chile and is hunted with guns and dogs, as well as being trapped illegally. Competition by the introduced California quail Callipepla californica is another possibly threat. Still this species is not considered threatened at present.

Great tinamou

Tinamus major

Photo by Anthony Villaume (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

great tinamou (en); macuco-do-Pantanal (pt); grand tinamou (fr); tinamú grande (es); Großtinamu (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Tinamiformes

Family Tinamidae

Range:

The great tinamou is found in Central and South America, from Mexico in the north, down to Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, the Guyanas, Suriname and in northern and western Brazil.

Size:

These birds are 43-44 cm long and can weigh up to 1,1 kg.

Habitat:

They live in tropical and sub-tropical forests, namely rain forest, lowland evergreen forest, river-edge forest, swamp forest and cloud forest, at altitudes of 300-1500 m.

Diet:

The great tinamou searches the forest leaf litter in search of seeds, fruits and small animals including insects, spiders, frogs and lizards.

Breeding:

These birds are polygynandrous. The female will mate with a male and lays 3-4 large, bright blue or violet eggs on a ground nest of rudimentary scrapings in the buttress roots of a tree. The male is then responsible for incubating and rearing the young, while the female starts nests with up to 6 other males. the eggs are incubated for 17 days and the male will take care of the young for 3 weeks after hatching, before moving on to find another female.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the population is suspected to be in decline due to ongoing habitat destruction and unsustainable levels of hunting. However, the current population size of 500.000-5.000.000 individuals and their very large breeding range justify that the species is not considered threatened at present.