Crypturellus cinereus
The Cinereous Tinamou (Crypturellus cinereus) is a cryptically plumaged, medium-sized ground-dwelling bird measuring approximately 29-32 cm (11.4-12.6 in) in length and weighing 430-560 g (15-20 oz). Its plumage is predominantly smoky grey-brown, with a paler throat and belly, and striking reddish-orange legs, providing excellent camouflage within the dense forest understory. A distinctive field mark is its deep, mournful, three-note whistle that echoes through the rainforest, often heard bef...
This species primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical lowland rainforests, particularly favoring areas with dense undergrowth, tangled vines, and often proximity to water sources like rivers or swamps. It is typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters.
The Cinereous Tinamou is omnivorous, primarily consuming a variety of fruits and seeds found on the forest floor, supplemented by insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. It forages by walking slowly and scratching through leaf litter.
Cinereous Tinamous are notoriously shy and secretive birds, primarily active during dawn and dusk, although they can be observed foraging throughout the day in undisturbed areas. They spend almost their entire lives on the forest floor, walking slowly and deliberately as they forage by scratching...
The Cinereous Tinamou is widely distributed across the northern and western Amazon Basin and the Guianas in South America. Its breeding range encompasses extensive lowlands from southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and much of Amazonian Brazil. It also extends n...
Least Concern
- Despite being capable of flight, Tinamous are considered the closest living relatives to flightless ratites like ostriches and emus, representing a unique evolutionary link. - The males of this species take on 100% of the parental duties, from incubating the eggs to raising the precocial chicks...