Barred Tinamou vs Spotted Nothura
Crypturellus casiquiare compared with Nothura maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barred Tinamou | Spotted Nothura |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus casiquiare | Nothura maculosa |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) | 24.8 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 287.625 g (10.15 oz) | 256.0 g (9.03 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic vegetation near wetland edges; sedges and stems dominate diet; supplements with … | Migratory grazer feeding on grasses, sedges, and grain; winter diet heavily supplemented with cereal crops … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 3-9 |
| 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.
Spotted Nothura
Pampas grassland, agricultural fields, pasture, and open scrubby areas from sea level to 3,000 m across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil, and Bolivia. Very tolerant of human-modified landscapes.
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.
Spotted Nothura
A rapid, repeated whistle described as 'ki-ki-ki' or a trill. One of the most vocal and frequently heard South American tinamous in campos and grassland habitats.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barred Tinamou
Inhabits savannas and forest edges of northeastern Brazil's semi-arid Caatinga region. Sedentary and endemic to this biome.
Spotted Nothura
Restricted to the Andes of southern Chile and adjacent Argentina. Sedentary in Valdivian temperate forest at low to mid elevations.
Conservation Status
Barred Tinamou
Spotted Nothura
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.
Spotted Nothura
Heavily spotted and streaked; buff and brown upperparts with bold dark spots. Pale central crown stripe; buff supercilium. Throat and belly white with spotted breast. Rufous in wings. Common and …
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.
Spotted Nothura
The most common and widespread nothura, with pale brown plumage heavily spotted with black and buff. Found in pampas grasslands, agricultural land, and open scrub across Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Bolivia. Highly terrestrial; flies rarely. Calls with a rapid descending trill.