Small-billed Tinamou vs Highland Tinamou
Crypturellus parvirostris compared with Nothocercus bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Small-billed Tinamou | Highland Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus parvirostris | Nothocercus bonapartei |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.2 cm (8.7 in) | 42.4 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 193.0 g (6.81 oz) | 712.25 g (25.12 oz) |
| Diet | Plucks grasses, aquatic plants, and seeds from wetland margins in South America; large body requires … | Seeds, berries, and insects form the diet of this Brazilian cerrado tinamou; forages quietly on … |
| Clutch Size | 2-5 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Small-billed Tinamou
Cerrado woodland, savanna grassland, gallery forest edges, and campo sujo in central Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Tolerates degraded habitats and cultivated areas. Most common in open and transitional zones.
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
Small-billed Tinamou
A high-pitched whistle with minimal variation. Among the smaller tinamous; call reflects its tiny size with a thinner tone. Found in open Cerrado grassland-forest edge.
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
Small-billed Tinamou
Found in forests and forest margins from southern Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia. Sedentary in warm lowland and foothill habitats.
Highland Tinamou
Found in dense forests and thickets from Colombia and Venezuela to Argentina. Sedentary; locally common in humid lowland forests.
Conservation Status
Small-billed Tinamou
Highland Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Small-billed Tinamou
Small and compact with brown upperparts finely barred dark; crown dark brown. Throat pale; breast rufous-buff. Belly whitish. Disproportionately small bill. Reddish legs. Sexes similar.
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
Small-billed Tinamou
A small tinamou with brown plumage, pale underparts, and a notably short fine bill. Widespread in cerrado, savanna woodlands, and forest edges of central South America. Often calls from dense grass or low scrub. One of the few tinamous adapted to open and semi-open habitats.
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.