Tepui Tinamou
Crypturellus ptaritepui
Unbarred, dark rufous tinamou with a gray face, throat, and belly. With a good view note the pale eyes and orange base to the bill. Found at medium to high elevations in humid forest on the slopes of a few tepuis in southeastern Venezuela, northern Brazil, and southwestern Guyana. Rarely encountered unless voice is known; song is a long and high-pitched whistle, fading at end. Similar to Little Tinamou (which has a very different voice), but Tepui Tinamou is darker and has pale eyes.
Identification
The tepui tinamou is approximately 27 cm (11 in) in length. The top of its head and rear of neck are rufous brown, darker on its back, and dusky below with rufous sheen on its upper breast. The sides of its head and throat are grey in color, its upper mandible is black, its lower mandible yellow with black tip, and its legs are olive in color.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
- Scientific name
- Crypturellus ptaritepui
- Authority
- Zimmer, JT & Phelps, WH, 1945
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Crypturellus
Range and habitat
The tepui tinamou has been found on Ptari-tepuí, Auyán-tepuí, Chimantá-tepuí, and Sororopán-tepuí, in southeastern Bolívar, Venezuela. It was found in between 1,350 to 1,800 m (4,430–5,910 ft) in elevation, and its preferred habitat is tropical moist montane forest or tropical moist shrubland.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the tepui eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes. They also eat small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as 4 different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually 2–3 weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.
Conservation
The IUCN classifies it as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi). It is a protected species in Venezuela.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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