Brushland Tinamou vs Andean Tinamou
Nothoprocta cinerascens compared with Nothoprocta pentlandii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brushland Tinamou | Andean Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothoprocta cinerascens | Nothoprocta pentlandii |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.2 cm (14.3 in) | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) |
| Weight | 526.25 g (18.56 oz) | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants; dabbles at water's edge for invertebrates; gregarious grazer on … | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | 8-11 | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
Brushland Tinamou
A low, repeated whistle from dry Chaco scrub. Call is unremarkable — a simple repeated note. Cryptic and secretive; the call is often the only indication of presence.
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
Brushland Tinamou
Found on the Pacific slopes of the Andes from Colombia to northern Chile. Sedentary in dense cloud forest between 800–2,500 m.
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Conservation Status
Brushland Tinamou
Andean Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Brushland Tinamou
Pale grayish-brown upperparts with dark brown streaks and pale buff shaft streaks. Supercilium buff. Breast finely streaked; belly pale. More washed-out and ashy than other Nothoprocta 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
Brushland Tinamou
A medium-sized plainly colored tinamou with grey-brown plumage and subtle barring. Found in dry brushland and thorny scrub of the Gran Chaco and Pampas regions. Terrestrial and secretive; calls infrequently. Adapted to arid and semi-arid open habitats of central South America.
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.