Rusty Tinamou vs Andean Tinamou
Crypturellus brevirostris compared with Nothoprocta pentlandii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rusty Tinamou | Andean Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus brevirostris | Nothoprocta pentlandii |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.7 cm (10.9 in) | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) |
| Weight | 273.9 g (9.66 oz) | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous screamer; grazes aquatic plants, seeds, and grasses in South American wetlands; supplements with invertebrates. | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Rusty Tinamou
Lowland terra firme rainforest in the central Amazon basin of Brazil. Prefers dense undisturbed forest interior with thick leaf litter and low understorey vegetation. Rarely recorded.
Andean Tinamou
Andean valleys, foothills, scrubby slopes, and agricultural land at 1,500–4,000 m from Ecuador through Peru and Bolivia to northwestern Argentina. Tolerates degraded and cultivated areas with scrub remnants.
Song & Call Comparison
Rusty Tinamou
A high, thin whistle with a slightly raspy quality. Smaller than most forest tinamous; its call reflects its diminutive size. Heard in terra firme forest of the Amazon basin.
Andean Tinamou
A rising 2-note whistle from Andean scrub and grassland. Frequently heard during early morning. Considered a vocal species within its highland habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rusty Tinamou
Found in coastal lowlands and forest edges of Pacific-slope Ecuador and northern Peru. Sedentary; inhabits dry coastal scrub.
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Conservation Status
Rusty Tinamou
Andean Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Rusty Tinamou
Warm rusty-rufous brown upperparts with faint darker barring; crown slightly darker. Throat pale buff; breast uniform rusty-rufous. Belly paler buff. Short-billed; legs reddish. Sexes similar.
Andean Tinamou
Gray-brown upperparts with blackish streaks and buff shaft-streaks. Pale buff supercilium. Breast spotted brown on buff. Belly whitish. Compact; common across Andean grasslands and scrub.
About These Birds
Rusty Tinamou
A small tinamou with rich warm rufous-brown plumage and a short stout bill. Found in the central Amazon basin of Brazil. Poorly studied; known mainly from specimens and limited field encounters. Terrestrial and secretive, inhabiting the dense floor of Amazonian rainforest.
Andean Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou with brown streaked plumage and pale supercilium. Widespread in Andean foothills and inter-Andean valleys from Ecuador to Argentina. Adaptable and locally common; inhabits a variety of open and scrubby habitats at mid to high altitudes.