Pale-browed Tinamou vs Great Tinamou
Crypturellus transfasciatus compared with Tinamus major
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pale-browed Tinamou | Great Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus transfasciatus | Tinamus major |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) |
| Weight | 283.0 g (9.98 oz) | 1006.75 g (35.51 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, small fruits, and insects form core diet; forages cryptically on the ground in Neotropical … | Ground-forager eating seeds, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates in Chilean matorral scrub; pecks and scratches … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 3-6 |
| 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.
Great Tinamou
Humid lowland and foothill tropical rainforest from southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Prefers undisturbed forest interior with dense understorey. Nests on the ground.
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.
Great Tinamou
A beautiful, pure whistled phrase repeated at regular intervals from the forest floor. Call is a clear 'wheeeoo-wheeeoo'. Among the most musical tinamou calls in its range.
Geographic Range & Migration
Pale-browed Tinamou
Inhabits forests and forest edges from Mexico to Ecuador and Bolivia. Largely sedentary; locally common in humid foothills.
Great Tinamou
Found in open habitats from Venezuela and Guianas through Bolivia to northeastern Argentina. Sedentary in dry savannas and grasslands.
Conservation Status
Pale-browed Tinamou
Great 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.
Great Tinamou
Olive-brown to grayish-brown upperparts with black vermiculations and barring. Crown darker brownish; throat whitish. Breast grayish-brown; belly pale buff. Flanks barred with dark brown.
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.
Great Tinamou
The largest regularly occurring tinamou, with brownish-grey plumage, barred wings, and a pale belly. Common in lowland Neotropical rainforest from Mexico to Bolivia. Males incubate glossy teal-colored eggs. Their haunting multi-note calls resonate through the forest, making them acoustically conspicuous yet visually elusive.