Bartlett's Tinamou

Overview

Bartlett's tinamou is a ground-dwelling bird native to South America that belongs to the family Tinamidae. As a member of the ratite order, it is one of the closest living relatives to prehistoric flying birds and is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Approximately 27 cm in length
• Brown upperparts barred with black
• Blackish crown
• White throat and belly with rufous underparts and black-barred flanks

Habitat

Found in swamp and lowland forest environments in subtropical and tropical regions up to 500 m in altitude. The species is native to western Amazonian Brazil, northern Bolivia, eastern Peru, and eastern Ecuador, where it is considered uncommon.

Diet

Forages on the ground or from low-lying bushes for fruit, supplemented by small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots.

Did you know?

The genus name Crypturellus literally translates to 'small hidden tail' and the species epithet bartletti honours Edward Bartlett. Males are solely responsible for incubating eggs that may originate from as many as four different females and raising the chicks for two to three weeks.