Barred Tinamou vs Highland Tinamou
Crypturellus casiquiare compared with Nothocercus bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barred Tinamou | Highland Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus casiquiare | Nothocercus bonapartei |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) | 42.4 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 287.625 g (10.15 oz) | 712.25 g (25.12 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic vegetation near wetland edges; sedges and stems dominate diet; supplements with … | Seeds, berries, and insects form the diet of this Brazilian cerrado tinamou; forages quietly on … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2-4 |
| 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.
Highland Tinamou
Humid montane and cloud forest at 1,000–2,500 m in the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia south to Bolivia. Favors dense undergrowth with mossy ground cover near streams. Makes slight downhill movements in winter.
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.
Highland Tinamou
A series of clear, flute-like whistles at varying pitches. The call descends in scale, creating a melancholic phrase. Sings from dense Andean cloud forest understory.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barred Tinamou
Inhabits savannas and forest edges of northeastern Brazil's semi-arid Caatinga region. Sedentary and endemic to this biome.
Highland Tinamou
Found in dense forests and thickets from Colombia and Venezuela to Argentina. Sedentary; locally common in humid lowland forests.
Conservation Status
Barred Tinamou
Highland 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.
Highland Tinamou
Rufous-brown upperparts heavily vermiculated with black; crown dark brown. Throat whitish; breast and flanks rufous with dark brown barring. Belly pale buff. Sexes alike.
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.
Highland Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou with dark brown upperparts, rufous-streaked breast, and a long slightly decurved bill. Inhabits Andean cloud forests. Its rich plaintive whistle is heard more often than the bird itself. Feeds on berries, seeds, and invertebrates on damp mossy forest floors.