Thicket Tinamou

Overview

The thicket tinamou, also known as the rufescent tinamou (Crypturellus cinnamomeus), is a small bird found in moist forests across subtropical and tropical central Mexico. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a significant occurrence range.

Identification

• Length of 27 to 29 cm with a weight of 440 g
• Upperparts are brown and heavily barred with blackish markings on the back, rump, and wings
• Lowerparts are pale brown and cinnamon on the breast, becoming greyer on the belly and undertail, which is whitish with dark barring
• Distinctive head features include a prominent buff supercilium and a well-defined ear covert patch, with a brownish bill and red legs
• Emits a monotonous 'whoo-oo' call that sounds like a steam engine

Habitat

This species prefers moist lowland forest, gallery forest, deciduous forest, and secondary forest in subtropical and tropical regions, though it can also be found in shrubland and drier forests up to an altitude of 1,850 m. Its range extends from Sinaloa on the western coast of Mexico to Costa Rica, and from the United States border in eastern coastal Mexico into Belize.

Diet

Like most tinamous, the thicket tinamou feeds on fruit, seeds, and invertebrates.

Did you know?

The genus name Crypturellus is derived from Greek and Latin words meaning 'small hidden tail'. This species can produce hybrids when breeding with the slaty-breasted tinamou.