Grey Tinamou

À propos

A large tinamou with uniform grey-brown plumage, barred flanks, and a long pale bill. Terrestrial and cryptic, moving silently through undergrowth. Found in Andean foothills and montane forests. Males incubate brilliantly colored turquoise-green eggs alone. Often detected by its haunting flute-like call at dawn.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	55,7 cm	21.9 in
Poids	1674,5 g	59.07 oz

Identification

Plumage

Uniform dark slate-gray upperparts finely vermiculated with black. Throat whitish; breast pale gray. Flanks barred with dark brown. Sexes similar; cryptic plumage suits humid forest floor.

Habitat & Range

Tropical and subtropical humid montane forest from Venezuela and Colombia south to Bolivia and northern Brazil at 200–1,800 m. Favors dense undergrowth near forest streams. Nests on the ground among leaf litter.

🌲 Forest

Répartition géographique

Found in open habitats across South America from Colombia and Venezuela to Chile and Argentina. Sedentary; some local altitudinal shifts.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous tinamou feeding on seeds, fruits, and tender leaves in Andean foothills; occasionally takes insects and small invertebrates.

Statut de conservation

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: SC.

Taille de la couvée

2-9

Son

Chant

A series of haunting, flute-like hollow whistles 'whooo-wooo' delivered at dawn and dusk from within humid forest. Mournful, far-carrying quality typical of large forest tinamous.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Tinamiformes (Tinamous)
Famille	Tinamidae (Tinamous)
Genus	Tinamus
Espèces	Tinamus tao

Distribution

Grey Tinamou has been recorded in 4 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇻🇪 Venezuela

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Grey Tinamou eat?

Herbivorous tinamou feeding on seeds, fruits, and tender leaves in Andean foothills; occasionally takes insects and small invertebrates.

Where does the Grey Tinamou live?

Tropical and subtropical humid montane forest from Venezuela and Colombia south to Bolivia and northern Brazil at 200–1,800 m. Favors dense undergrowth near forest streams. Nests on the ground among leaf litter.

Is the Grey Tinamou endangered?

The Grey Tinamou has a conservation status of Vulnerable.

How does the Grey Tinamou nest?

Nest type: SC.

What does the Grey Tinamou sound like?

A series of haunting, flute-like hollow whistles 'whooo-wooo' delivered at dawn and dusk from within humid forest. Mournful, far-carrying quality typical of large forest tinamous.

How big is the Grey Tinamou?

The Grey Tinamou has a wingspan of 55.7 cm, weight of 1674.5 g.

What order and family does the Grey Tinamou belong to?

The Grey Tinamou (Tinamus tao) belongs to the order Tinamiformes and the family Tinamidae.