Tinamus osgoodi
The Black Tinamou (*Tinamus osgoodi*) is a large, secretive ground-dwelling bird of the Neotropics, notable for its uniformly dark, glossy plumage. Measuring approximately 40-46 cm (16-18 inches) in length and weighing between 1.2-1.8 kg (2.6-4 pounds), its robust body is almost entirely black, subtly contrasting with a reddish-brown lower belly and vent. Distinctive field marks include its overall bulky shape, relatively small head, thick neck, and strong, pale legs, which aid in its terrest...
Found exclusively in montane cloud forests and humid evergreen forests, the Black Tinamou typically inhabits elevations ranging from 900 to 2100 meters, preferring areas with dense undergrowth and a thick canopy.
Its diet primarily consists of fallen fruits and seeds, supplemented by a variety of invertebrates including insects and their larvae, which it uncovers by pecking and probing in the leaf litter.
The Black Tinamou is an intensely shy and terrestrial species, spending the vast majority of its time foraging silently on the forest floor, often detected only by its distinctive calls. It exhibits crepuscular activity, being most active at dawn and dusk, though it can forage throughout the day ...
The Black Tinamou has a highly restricted and disjunct distribution, confined to two distinct populations within the Andes of southeastern Peru and western Bolivia. The nominate subspecies, *Tinamus osgoodi osgoodi*, is found in Peru, specifically in the departments of Cusco and Puno, primarily w...
Vulnerable
- The Black Tinamou is so reclusive that it is often heard more than seen, with its haunting calls being a defining sound of its cloud forest habitat. - Unlike many ground-dwelling birds, tinamous are part of the Palaeognathae lineage, sharing an ancient ancestry with ostriches and emus, despite ...