Huayco Tinamou vs Great Tinamou
Rhynchotus maculicollis compared with Tinamus major
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Huayco Tinamou | Great Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhynchotus maculicollis | 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 | 900.8333333333334 g (31.78 oz) | 1006.75 g (35.51 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic vegetation near rivers; dabbles for invertebrates; diet richer in seeds … | Ground-forager eating seeds, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates in Chilean matorral scrub; pecks and scratches … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 3-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Huayco Tinamou
Arid and semi-arid puna grassland, dry rocky slopes, and scrubby woodland at 2,500–4,000 m in the Andes of Bolivia and southern Peru. Often associated with dry quebrada habitats.
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
Huayco Tinamou
A slower, slightly lower whistle than the Red-winged Tinamou. Calls from steep scrubby Andean slopes. Relatively poorly documented compared to its lowland relatives.
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
Huayco Tinamou
Inhabits open savannas and grasslands from Colombia and Venezuela to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Sedentary; walks in tall grass.
Great Tinamou
Found in open habitats from Venezuela and Guianas through Bolivia to northeastern Argentina. Sedentary in dry savannas and grasslands.
Conservation Status
Huayco Tinamou
Great Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Huayco Tinamou
Brown upperparts heavily streaked black; rufous-chestnut wings visible in flight. Neck and upper breast spotted and streaked on buff-white ground. Belly pale. Andean grassland species; sexes similar.
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
Huayco Tinamou
A large tinamou with spotted brown-and-buff plumage, closely related to the Red-winged Tinamou. Found on Andean slopes and high-altitude grasslands in Bolivia and Peru. Less studied than its relative; inhabits dry puna scrub and rocky slopes.
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.