Variegated Tinamou vs Andean Tinamou
Crypturellus variegatus compared with Nothoprocta pentlandii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Variegated Tinamou | Andean Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crypturellus variegatus | Nothoprocta pentlandii |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.1 cm (12.2 in) | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) |
| Weight | 363.0 g (12.80 oz) | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) |
| Diet | Herbivorous grazer eating grasses, sedges, and aquatic vegetation; grazes communally on flooded grasslands in northern … | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Variegated Tinamou
Lowland humid tropical forest in the Amazon basin, from southern Venezuela and the Guianas through Peru, Bolivia, and central Brazil. Prefers undisturbed forest interior, tolerating some várzea and forest edge.
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
Variegated Tinamou
A clear, loud whistle of 2-3 falling notes. Called variably from lowland Amazonian forest. One of the more frequently encountered and identified Crypturellus in its range.
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
Variegated Tinamou
Found in the highlands of central Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Sedentary in puna grasslands at 3,000–4,500 m.
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Conservation Status
Variegated Tinamou
Andean Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Variegated Tinamou
Boldly variegated: upperparts rufous-chestnut with heavy black barring and spots. Crown black; face and throat buff-white. Breast pale rufous. Belly whitish. Vivid pattern distinct among tinamous.
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
Variegated Tinamou
A medium-sized tinamou with heavily patterned plumage—chestnut, black, and buff barring—making it one of the most intricately patterned tinamous. Found throughout Amazonia. Its loud rolling whistle carries through the forest. Feeds on fruits and invertebrates in forest undergrowth.
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.