Andean Tinamou vs Darwin's Nothura
Nothoprocta pentlandii compared with Nothura darwinii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Tinamou | Darwin's Nothura |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothoprocta pentlandii | Nothura darwinii |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) | 25.3 cm (10.0 in) |
| Weight | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) | 242.25 g (8.55 oz) |
| Diet | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … | Grazes grasses, grain stubble, and aquatic plants; migratory goose with diet shifting to agricultural grain … |
| Clutch Size | 5-8 | 3-9 |
| 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.
Darwin's Nothura
Puna grassland, Andean steppe, and altiplano at 3,000–4,500 m from Peru through Bolivia and Chile to central Argentina. Tolerates dry exposed conditions and some human disturbance.
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.
Darwin's Nothura
A fast, rippling 3-note whistle from puna grassland and desert scrub. Call is considered brighter and faster than related nothuras. Heard during morning and evening activity.
Geographic Range & Migration
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Darwin's Nothura
Endemic to the Colombian and Venezuelan Andes; inhabits paramo above 3,000 m. Sedentary and high-altitude specialist year-round.
Conservation Status
Andean Tinamou
Darwin's Nothura
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.
Darwin's Nothura
Brown upperparts with buff and black streaking; crown dark with pale central stripe. Pale supercilium. Breast buff spotted dark brown. Belly whitish. Arid Andean foothills and pampas specialist.
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.
Darwin's Nothura
A small tinamou named in honor of Charles Darwin, with streaked brown plumage and pale underparts. Common in puna grasslands and Andean steppe of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Terrestrial and gregarious; moves in small groups. Calls with a rapid trilling whistle.