Choco Tinamou vs Andean Tinamou
Crypturellus kerriae compared with Nothoprocta pentlandii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Choco Tinamou | Andean Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus kerriae | Nothoprocta pentlandii |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) |
| Weight | 443.4 g (15.64 oz) | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, small invertebrates, and fallen berries in South American savanna; solitary ground feeder. | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Choco Tinamou
Dense humid lowland forest in the Darién region of eastern Panama and Chocó of Colombia, below 300 m. Extremely restricted to this narrow Pacific bioregion. Rarely encountered even by experienced field ornithologists.
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
Choco Tinamou
A soft, hesitant whistle from dense Choco rainforest — one of the most poorly documented tinamou calls, reflecting its restricted and threatened lowland Pacific rainforest habitat.
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
Choco Tinamou
Inhabits open grasslands and steppes of Patagonian Argentina and Chile. Largely sedentary; some seasonal altitudinal movements.
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Conservation Status
Choco Tinamou
Andean Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Choco Tinamou
Dark brown upperparts with blackish barring; crown dark. Throat whitish; breast and flanks rufous-brown. Belly pale buff. Reddish legs. Restricted to humid Chocó forests; 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
Choco Tinamou
A small dark tinamou with black-barred olive-brown plumage. One of the least-known tinamous in the world, restricted to the Chocó bioregion of Colombia and Panama. Known from very few specimens; virtually unstudied in the field. Inhabits dense lowland Pacific forest.
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.