Crypturellus berlepschi
Berlepsch's Tinamou (Crypturellus berlepschi) is a cryptically plumaged, medium-sized ground bird, measuring approximately 27-30 cm (10.5-12 in) in length. Its plumage is uniformly dark, typically dusky blackish or deep brown, often with a paler, sometimes buffy, throat and chin that can be a key field mark. The stout legs are typically grayish to dull yellowish-green, and its short, almost vestigial tail is barely visible. Its shy, secretive nature means it is far more often heard than seen,...
Found in lowland humid evergreen rainforests, particularly in dense undergrowth from sea level up to around 1200 meters elevation.
Mainly feeds on fallen fruits and seeds, supplemented by small invertebrates such as insects and spiders, all gleaned from the forest floor.
Berlepsch's Tinamou is predominantly diurnal but exhibits peak activity during crepuscular hours at dawn and dusk, when its distinctive calls are most frequently heard. It spends most of its life on the forest floor, roosting in dense vegetation or on low branches at night. It forages solitarily,...
Berlepsch's Tinamou is a non-migratory resident of the Pacific lowlands of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Its distribution extends from extreme western Chocó and Valle del Cauca departments in Colombia, south through the Nariño department, and into the Esmeraldas, Manabí, and western Pichinch...
Near Threatened
- Berlepsch's Tinamou is named after the German ornithologist Hans von Berlepsch, a prolific describer of South American birds. - Despite being classified as a 'gamebird', this species is exceptionally shy and rarely seen, preferring to run or hide rather than fly. - Its mournful, whistling call ...