Yellow-legged Tinamou vs Andean Tinamou
Crypturellus noctivagus compared with Nothoprocta pentlandii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Yellow-legged Tinamou | Andean Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus noctivagus | Nothoprocta pentlandii |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) |
| Weight | 567.5 g (20.02 oz) | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, small berries, and invertebrates in Bolivian and Argentine forests; solitary ground forager. | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | 3-4 | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Yellow-legged Tinamou
Atlantic Forest remnants in eastern Brazil from Bahia south to Rio Grande do Sul. Prefers humid lowland and foothill forest with dense understorey. Increasingly restricted to forest fragments due to deforestation.
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
Yellow-legged Tinamou
A slow, clear, somewhat melancholic whistle repeated at intervals. Nocturnal calling behavior makes it easier to hear than to see in Atlantic Forest and Cerrado.
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
Yellow-legged Tinamou
Inhabits humid forests of eastern Brazil from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul. Sedentary; restricted to Atlantic Forest remnants.
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Conservation Status
Yellow-legged Tinamou
Andean Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Yellow-legged Tinamou
Dark brown upperparts finely barred with blackish. Throat whitish; breast rufous-brown. Belly pale buff-white. Distinctive yellow legs contrast with dark plumage. Larger than most Crypturellus species.
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
Yellow-legged Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou with yellow-orange legs, dark brown upperparts, and pale underparts. Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Largely nocturnal; its mournful whistle is often heard at night. Threatened by continuing deforestation of the Atlantic 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.