Pale-browed Tinamou vs Highland Tinamou
Crypturellus transfasciatus compared with Nothocercus bonapartei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pale-browed Tinamou | Highland Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus transfasciatus | Nothocercus bonapartei |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | 42.4 cm (16.7 in) |
| Weight | 283.0 g (9.98 oz) | 712.25 g (25.12 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, small fruits, and insects form core diet; forages cryptically on the ground in Neotropical … | Seeds, berries, and insects form the diet of this Brazilian cerrado tinamou; forages quietly on … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Pale-browed Tinamou
Seasonally dry tropical forest and deciduous scrub below 1,000 m in the Tumbesian bioregion of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Tolerates degraded habitats. Most active in early mornings.
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
Pale-browed Tinamou
A hesitant, soft whistle repeated at long intervals. Considered a quieter tinamou; its pale-browed plumage matches its retiring vocal behavior in dry forest.
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
Pale-browed Tinamou
Inhabits forests and forest edges from Mexico to Ecuador and Bolivia. Largely sedentary; locally common in humid foothills.
Highland Tinamou
Found in dense forests and thickets from Colombia and Venezuela to Argentina. Sedentary; locally common in humid lowland forests.
Conservation Status
Pale-browed Tinamou
Highland Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Pale-browed Tinamou
Brown upperparts barred blackish; distinctive pale supercilium contrasting with dark crown. Throat white; breast pale rufous-buff. Belly whitish. Flanks barred. Found in dry forests of SW Ecuador and NW Peru.
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
Pale-browed Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou with a distinctive pale supercilium, brown upperparts, and barred flanks. Found in dry forests of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Calls with a mournful two-note whistle. Restricted to the seasonally dry Tumbesian region.
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.