Patagonian Tinamou vs Great Tinamou
Tinamotis ingoufi compared with Tinamus major
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Patagonian Tinamou | Great Tinamou |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tinamotis ingoufi | Tinamus major |
| Order | Tinamiformes | Tinamiformes |
| Family | Tinamidae | Tinamidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) |
| Weight | 950.0 g (33.51 oz) | 1006.75 g (35.51 oz) |
| Diet | Arctic-breeding; grazes grasses, sedges, and cotton-grass in tundra; winter diet shifts to marine grasses and … | Ground-forager eating seeds, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates in Chilean matorral scrub; pecks and scratches … |
| Clutch Size | 8-12 | 3-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Patagonian Tinamou
Open Patagonian steppe, grassland, and rocky semi-desert from southern Buenos Aires Province south to Tierra del Fuego. Adapts to cold windy exposed conditions. Groups near rocky outcrops and shrub patches.
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
Patagonian Tinamou
A repeated whistle from Patagonian steppe. Call is a simple, clear 2-note phrase. Considered less vocal than some relatives; its open habitat carries sound well regardless.
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
Patagonian Tinamou
Found in forests of the Andes foothills from Colombia to Bolivia. Sedentary in cloud forest undergrowth at 600–2,000 m.
Great Tinamou
Found in open habitats from Venezuela and Guianas through Bolivia to northeastern Argentina. Sedentary in dry savannas and grasslands.
Conservation Status
Patagonian Tinamou
Great Tinamou
How to Tell Them Apart
Patagonian Tinamou
Large tinamou with grayish-brown upperparts, dark streaking, and buff shaft streaks. Pale supercilium. Breast grayish, spotted. Belly pale. Patagonian steppe specialist; 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
Patagonian Tinamou
A large crested tinamou with grey-brown plumage and bold pale streaking. Endemic to Patagonian steppe of southern Argentina and Chile. Found on open wind-swept grasslands. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Its loud call resonates across the barren steppe.
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.