Crypturellus casiquiare
The Barred Tinamou (Crypturellus casiquiare) is a medium-sized, highly elusive ground-dwelling bird, showcasing the ancient lineage of the Tinamidae family, often considered a link to flightless ratites. Measuring approximately 25-28 cm (10-11 inches) in length and weighing between 220-300 grams (7.8-10.6 ounces), its cryptic plumage consists of a largely greyish-brown body, finely barred flanks, and pale throat, effectively camouflaging it amidst the forest floor litter. Distinctive field ma...
This tinamou inhabits humid lowland forests, secondary growth, and savanna woodlands, typically found from sea level up to around 500 meters (1,640 feet) in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous and granivorous, the Barred Tinamou supplements its diet with various invertebrates, meticulously foraging on the forest floor for fallen fruits, seeds, and insects.
The Barred Tinamou is a predominantly diurnal to crepuscular species, exceptionally shy and preferring to remain hidden within dense undergrowth. It forages solitarily by gleaning fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates from the leaf litter on the forest floor, moving slowly and deliberately. Whi...
The Barred Tinamou has a relatively restricted geographic distribution confined to northern South America. Its primary range encompasses southern Venezuela, southeastern Colombia, and northwestern Brazil. Specifically, it is found within the upper Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia, ex...
Least Concern
- The Barred Tinamou's scientific name, *casiquiare*, refers to the Casiquiare Canal in Venezuela, a unique waterway connecting the Orinoco and Amazon river systems. - Despite its shy nature and cryptic plumage, its distinctive, mournful whistle is often the only clue to its presence, sometimes d...