Crypturellus transfasciatus
The Pale-browed Tinamou (Crypturellus transfasciatus) is a captivating, medium-sized terrestrial bird, measuring approximately 27-29 cm (11 inches) in length and weighing around 450 grams. Its overall plumage is a cryptic brownish-grey on the upperparts, transitioning to a paler, buffy-white on the underparts, often with a rufous wash on the flanks. The most distinctive field mark, giving the species its name, is a prominent pale supercilium or 'brow' that contrasts sharply with darker lores ...
Inhabits arid and semi-arid deciduous forests, dry lowland scrublands, and thorny woodlands, often found near water sources or along riparian corridors, typically from sea level up to 1,500 meters (occasionally 2,000 meters).
Feeds primarily on fallen fruits, seeds, and various invertebrates such as ants, termites, and other insects, foraging by gleaning and scratching through leaf litter on the forest floor.
This extremely shy and secretive tinamou is primarily terrestrial, foraging quietly on the forest floor, typically active during crepuscular hours at dawn and dusk, though it can be active throughout the day in undisturbed areas. It moves with a characteristic cautious walk, often freezing or run...
The Pale-browed Tinamou is endemic to the Tumbes-Piura dry forests, a highly restricted ecoregion spanning southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Its distribution in Ecuador includes the provinces of Manabí, Guayas, El Oro, and Loja, extending south into Peru through the departments of Tumbe...
Vulnerable
- The Pale-browed Tinamou belongs to the order Tinamiformes, an ancient lineage of birds that are considered the sister group to all other modern birds (Neognathae). - Despite their superficial resemblance to gamebirds, tinamous are not closely related and represent an independent evolutionary br...