Barred Tinamou vs Variegated Tinamou
Crypturellus casiquiare compared with Crypturellus variegatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barred Tinamou | Variegated Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus casiquiare | Crypturellus variegatus |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) | 31.1 cm (12.2 in) |
| Weight | 287.625 g (10.15 oz) | 363.0 g (12.80 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic vegetation near wetland edges; sedges and stems dominate diet; supplements with … | Herbivorous grazer eating grasses, sedges, and aquatic vegetation; grazes communally on flooded grasslands in northern … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Barred Tinamou
Restricted to humid lowland forest along the Casiquiare canal region of southern Venezuela and extreme northwestern Brazil. Associated with river-edge and flooded forest at low elevations. Rarely recorded.
Variegated Tinamou
Lowland humid tropical forest in the Amazon basin, from southern Venezuela and the Guianas through Peru, Bolivia, and central Brazil. Prefers undisturbed forest interior, tolerating some várzea and forest edge.
Song & Call Comparison
Barred Tinamou
A slow, hollow whistle from blackwater river forest of the upper Orinoco. Call is distinctive but rarely recorded given its restricted range on the Venezuela-Colombia border.
Variegated Tinamou
A clear, loud whistle of 2-3 falling notes. Called variably from lowland Amazonian forest. One of the more frequently encountered and identified Crypturellus in its range.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barred Tinamou
Inhabits savannas and forest edges of northeastern Brazil's semi-arid Caatinga region. Sedentary and endemic to this biome.
Variegated Tinamou
Found in the highlands of central Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Sedentary in puna grasslands at 3,000–4,500 m.
Conservation Status
Barred Tinamou
Variegated Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Barred Tinamou
Heavily and boldly barred throughout; upperparts dark brown with broad black bars. Crown blackish; face pale. Throat whitish; breast and flanks strongly barred black and buff. Belly whitish.
Variegated Tinamou
Boldly variegated: upperparts rufous-chestnut with heavy black barring and spots. Crown black; face and throat buff-white. Breast pale rufous. Belly whitish. Vivid pattern distinct among tinamous.
About These Birds
Barred Tinamou
A small tinamou with distinctly barred brown-and-buff plumage. Restricted to the Casiquiare region of Venezuela and adjacent northwestern Brazil—one of the most restricted tinamou ranges. Nearly all data come from specimens. Inhabits humid lowland forest along river systems.
Variegated Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou with heavily patterned plumage—chestnut, black, and buff barring—making it one of the most intricately patterned tinamous. Found throughout Amazonia. Its loud rolling whistle carries through the forest. Feeds on fruits and invertebrates in forest undergrowth.