Great Tinamou
Tinamus major
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<birdfyi-bird slug="tinamus-major"></birdfyi-bird>About
The largest regularly occurring tinamou, with brownish-grey plumage, barred wings, and a pale belly. Common in lowland Neotropical rainforest from Mexico to Bolivia. Males incubate glossy teal-colored eggs. Their haunting multi-note calls resonate through the forest, making them acoustically conspicuous yet visually elusive.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 48.2 cm | 19.0 in |
| Weight | 1006.75 g | 35.51 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Olive-brown to grayish-brown upperparts with black vermiculations and barring. Crown darker brownish; throat whitish. Breast grayish-brown; belly pale buff. Flanks barred with dark brown.
Habitat & Range
Humid lowland and foothill tropical rainforest from southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Prefers undisturbed forest interior with dense understorey. Nests on the ground.
Geographic Range
Found in open habitats from Venezuela and Guianas through Bolivia to northeastern Argentina. Sedentary in dry savannas and grasslands.
Diet & Feeding
Ground-forager eating seeds, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates in Chilean matorral scrub; pecks and scratches leaf litter.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 17 days.
Clutch Size
3-6
Sound
Song
A beautiful, pure whistled phrase repeated at regular intervals from the forest floor. Call is a clear 'wheeeoo-wheeeoo'. Among the most musical tinamou calls in its range.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Tinamiformes (Tinamous) |
| Family | Tinamidae (Tinamous) |
| Genus | Tinamus |
| Species | Tinamus major |
Distribution
Great Tinamou has been recorded in 4 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Great Tinamou eat?
Where does the Great Tinamou live?
Is the Great Tinamou endangered?
How does the Great Tinamou nest?
What does the Great Tinamou sound like?
How big is the Great Tinamou?
What order and family does the Great Tinamou belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Tinamidae family