Crypturellus undulatus
The Undulated Tinamou, *Crypturellus undulatus*, is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird belonging to the ancient family Tinamidae, often considered basal avian lineages. Measuring approximately 28-32 cm in length and weighing between 300-500 grams, its plumage is a cryptic tapestry of brownish-grey, intricately patterned with fine, wavy (undulated) dark barring across its back, wings, and flanks, offering superb camouflage on the forest floor. A pale throat and a dusky crown contrast subtly ...
Found primarily in lowland humid forests, dense secondary growth, and gallery forests, it prefers areas with thick undergrowth for cover, typically occurring at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of fallen fruits, seeds, buds, and small invertebrates, which they glean from the forest floor by scratching through leaf litter.
Undulated Tinamous are highly secretive and mostly diurnal, spending their days foraging solitarily or in pairs on the forest floor, often roosting on the ground or low branches at night. They employ a scratch-and-peck foraging strategy, meticulously sifting through leaf litter to locate food ite...
The Undulated Tinamou is a widespread resident throughout much of tropical and subtropical South America, encompassing a vast distribution across the Amazon Basin and adjacent regions. Its range extends from central Colombia and Venezuela, through the Guyanas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), so...
Least Concern
- The Undulated Tinamou belongs to a family (Tinamidae) considered one of the most ancient avian lineages, closely related to the flightless ratites like ostriches and emus, despite being able to fly (albeit poorly). - It is far more often heard than seen; its mournful, fluting whistle is one of ...