Andean Tinamou vs Spotted Nothura
Nothoprocta pentlandii compared with Nothura maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Tinamou | Spotted Nothura |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothoprocta pentlandii | Nothura maculosa |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) | 24.8 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 316.01666666666665 g (11.15 oz) | 256.0 g (9.03 oz) |
| Diet | Herbivorous grazer feeding on grasses and aquatic sedges near wetlands; supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates … | Migratory grazer feeding on grasses, sedges, and grain; winter diet heavily supplemented with cereal crops … |
| 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.
Spotted Nothura
Pampas grassland, agricultural fields, pasture, and open scrubby areas from sea level to 3,000 m across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil, and Bolivia. Very tolerant of human-modified landscapes.
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.
Spotted Nothura
A rapid, repeated whistle described as 'ki-ki-ki' or a trill. One of the most vocal and frequently heard South American tinamous in campos and grassland habitats.
Geographic Range & Migration
Andean Tinamou
Inhabits forests and edges in a broad arc from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. Largely sedentary.
Spotted Nothura
Restricted to the Andes of southern Chile and adjacent Argentina. Sedentary in Valdivian temperate forest at low to mid elevations.
Conservation Status
Andean Tinamou
Spotted 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.
Spotted Nothura
Heavily spotted and streaked; buff and brown upperparts with bold dark spots. Pale central crown stripe; buff supercilium. Throat and belly white with spotted breast. Rufous in wings. Common and …
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.
Spotted Nothura
The most common and widespread nothura, with pale brown plumage heavily spotted with black and buff. Found in pampas grasslands, agricultural land, and open scrub across Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Bolivia. Highly terrestrial; flies rarely. Calls with a rapid descending trill.