Ornate Tinamou

Overview

The ornate tinamou (Nothoprocta ornata) is a small bird commonly found in the high-altitude grasslands and dry shrublands of west central South America. As a member of the tinamou family, it is classified as a ratite and is one of the closest living relatives of prehistoric flying birds.

Identification

• Approximately 32 cm in length with brownish-grey upper parts marked with black and buff.
• Tawny-buff underparts featuring darker barring.
• Head and neck are buff with prominent black spots.
• Slender, curved bill with legs that are either yellow or grey.

Habitat

This species inhabits high-altitude grasslands and shrublands, preferring elevations between 3,450 and 4,700 m. Its range includes the puna of central Peru, the Andes of southeastern Peru and western Bolivia, extreme northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina.

Diet

The ornate tinamou forages for fruit on the ground or on low-lying bushes, supplementing its diet with small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots.

Did you know?

Males incubate the eggs and raise the chicks, often caring for offspring from as many as four different females, with the nest situated on the ground within dense brush or between raised root buttresses.