Crypturellus cinnamomeus
The Thicket Tinamou (Crypturellus cinnamomeus) is a captivating, medium-sized ground-dwelling bird, typically measuring 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) in length and weighing between 300-500 grams. Its plumage is a masterclass in cryptic camouflage, predominantly rufous-brown to cinnamon on the upperparts, with a gray head and neck often contrasting with a white throat. Distinctive barring of blackish and buff can be observed on its flanks, and its legs range from dull olive to yellowish. This specie...
Found primarily in a variety of forest types, including dry, humid, and secondary forests, as well as dense thickets and scrubland, from sea level up to around 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in elevation.
Omnivorous, feeding mainly on a variety of seeds, berries, small fruits, and insects, gleaned from the forest floor.
Thicket Tinamous are notoriously shy and elusive, typically active during dawn and dusk (crepuscular) but also venturing out during the day. They spend nearly all their time on the forest floor, foraging by walking slowly and scratching through leaf litter with their strong legs and feet. These b...
The Thicket Tinamou is a widespread resident across much of Central America and southern Mexico. Its extensive range spans from the Pacific slope of Mexico, through the Yucatán Peninsula, and southwards across Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. While its distribu...
Least Concern
- Thicket Tinamous are part of the ancient order Tinamiformes, sharing ancestry with flightless ratites like ostriches and emus, despite being capable of flight. - Males are solely responsible for incubating the eggs and raising the young, a rare trait among birds. - Their eggs are famously iride...