Andean Tinamou vs White-throated Tinamou
Nothoprocta pentlandii compared with Tinamus guttatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Tinamou | White-throated Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothoprocta pentlandii | Tinamus guttatus |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) |
| Weight | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) | 688.75 g (24.29 oz) |
| Diet | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … | Feeds on grass seeds, small invertebrates, and fallen berries in Andean valleys; scratches through dry … |
| Clutch Size | 5-8 | 5-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
White-throated Tinamou
Lowland humid tropical forest in the western and central Amazon basin, from southern Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to western Brazil. Prefers undisturbed terra firme forest interior.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
White-throated Tinamou
Gives high-pitched, pure whistles in a series of 3-4 notes, descending in pitch. Song carries through humid lowland forest. Considered more musical than most other tinamous.
Geographic Range & Migration
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
White-throated Tinamou
Ranges across open savannas and woodland edges of central and eastern Brazil into Bolivia and Argentina. Non-migratory and resident.
Conservation Status
Andean Tinamou
White-throated Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
White-throated Tinamou
Brown upperparts finely spotted and barred black. Distinctive pure white throat contrasting with rufous-brown breast. Belly buff-white with dark spots on flanks. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
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.
White-throated Tinamou
A medium-large tinamou with bold white spotting on brown upperparts and a distinctive white throat patch. Found in lowland Amazonian rainforest. Its resonant flute-like call is one of the signature sounds of Amazonian forests. Feeds on fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates on the forest floor.