Highland Tinamou vs Great Tinamou
Nothocercus bonapartei compared with Tinamus major
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Highland Tinamou | Great Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothocercus bonapartei | Tinamus major |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.4 cm (16.7 in) | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) |
| Weight | 712.25 g (25.12 oz) | 1006.75 g (35.51 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, berries, and insects form the diet of this Brazilian cerrado tinamou; forages quietly on … | Ground-forager eating seeds, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates in Chilean matorral scrub; pecks and scratches … |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 3-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
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
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.
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
Highland Tinamou
Found in dense forests and thickets from Colombia and Venezuela to Argentina. Sedentary; locally common in humid lowland forests.
Great Tinamou
Found in open habitats from Venezuela and Guianas through Bolivia to northeastern Argentina. Sedentary in dry savannas and grasslands.
Conservation Status
Highland Tinamou
Great Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
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
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.
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.