Cinereous Tinamou

Overview

The cinereous tinamou, or brushland tinamou, is a shy ground bird native to swamp and lowland forests in northern South America. As a member of the family Tinamidae, it belongs to one of the oldest living bird lineages, with fossils dating back tens of millions of years.

Identification

• Size approximately 29–32 cm, with females generally larger than males.
• Plumage is dark brown to sooty brown, featuring a smoky-grey body and a reddish-brown crown and nape.
• Bill has a dark upper mandible and a yellow lower mandible; legs are dull orange to yellow.
• Loud, distinctive monosyllabic whistle heard at dawn and dusk, with intervals shortening over time to create a speeding-up effect.

Habitat

Found in lowland rainforests, swamp forests, and dense vegetation up to 700 m altitude, often near streams. It utilises second-growth forests, bushy areas, and occasionally coffee, cocoa plantations or savanna. Its range covers southern Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, and parts of Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Diet

Mostly herbivorous, feeding on small fruits, seeds, and acai berries, though it also consumes invertebrates such as ants, mole-crickets, and pentatomids. Foraging is done by looking under leaves or using its bill to dig, as it does not scratch for food.

Did you know?

The bird is remarkably easy to hear but very difficult to see, as it can project its voice to seem like it is coming from a different direction, making its exact location hard to pinpoint.