Red-legged Tinamou vs Solitary Tinamou
Crypturellus erythropus compared with Tinamus solitarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-legged Tinamou | Solitary Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus erythropus | Tinamus solitarius |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.6 cm (12.4 in) | 52.3 cm (20.6 in) |
| Weight | 485.0 g (17.11 oz) | 1428.5 g (50.39 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, fruits, and insects on forest floors of eastern South America; scratches leaf litter; … | Omnivorous ground-forager in Patagonian steppes; eats seeds, berries, shoots, and insects; diet shifts toward seeds … |
| Clutch Size | 3 | 6-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Red-legged Tinamou
Tropical lowland forest, forest edges, and secondary growth in northern South America from Colombia and Venezuela east through the Guianas, below 1,200 m. Tolerates degraded forest and cultivated areas with remnant trees.
Solitary Tinamou
Dense Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil from Bahia south to Rio Grande do Sul, into northeastern Argentina and Paraguay. Prefers humid lowland and foothill forest with closed canopy and thick undergrowth. Below 900 m.
Song & Call Comparison
Red-legged Tinamou
A loud, clear whistled song of 2-4 notes. The call carries through tropical dry forest and scrub. Considered one of the more vocal and frequently heard tinamous in its range.
Solitary Tinamou
Delivers a pure, mournful flute-like whistle repeated slowly. The call is a single clear 'whooo' rising then falling, given from dense understory. Less frequently heard than other tinamous.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-legged Tinamou
Found in grassy savannas and open woodlands of Venezuela, Guianas, and northern Brazil. Sedentary; walks through tall grasslands.
Solitary Tinamou
Restricted to Paraguay, southern Bolivia, and northern Argentina. Sedentary in dry Chaco woodlands and open grasslands year-round.
Conservation Status
Red-legged Tinamou
Solitary Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-legged Tinamou
Brown upperparts with dark barring; crown dark brown. Throat whitish; breast and neck rufous. Belly buff. Diagnostic bright red legs and reddish bill. Females tend to be more heavily barred.
Solitary Tinamou
Rich dark brown upperparts heavily barred and vermiculated with black. Crown dark; throat whitish. Breast rufous-brown; belly pale buff. Flanks broadly barred dark brown. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Red-legged Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou recognized by its bright red legs and feet contrasting with grey-brown plumage. Widespread in northern South America from Colombia and Venezuela east to Trinidad and the Guianas. Inhabits dry and humid forests and forest edges. Calls with a clear repetitive whistle.
Solitary Tinamou
A large heavily built tinamou with dark olive-brown upperparts, pale underparts, and distinctive dark barring. Lives singly in dense Atlantic Forest, rarely seen despite its loud melancholic calls. Feeds on fallen fruit, seeds, and invertebrates. Threatened by deforestation across eastern Brazil.