Andean Tinamou
Nothoprocta pentlandii
Tan, heavily patterned tinamou with a down-curved bill. Found in montane scrub and grasslands, including around forest edges. Where it overlaps with the similar Curve-billed Tinamou, note Andean’s colder brown coloration and slightly reduced patterning below. Smaller than the similar Ornate Tinamou, with a larger bill. Often undetected until it flushes explosively from underfoot. Listen for its simple call, a high, piercing, rising whistle: “tuEEE!”
Identification
The Andean tinamou is approximately 27 cm (11 in) in length. Its upper parts are greyish-brown to olive brown and barred with black and white. Its breast is grey and spotted with white or buff, its belly is buff or whitish and its crown is black, the sides of its head and throat are mottled grey, and its legs are yellow.
Taxonomy
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. pentlandii is the Latin form of Pentland which commemorates the Irish Traveller Joseph Barclay Pentland.<p>The Andean Tinamou has seven subspecies as follows:
- Scientific name
- Nothoprocta pentlandii
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1867)
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Nothoprocta
Range and habitat
The Andean tinamou can be found in the Andes from southern Ecuador to central Chile, as well as in the Sierras de Córdoba in Argentina.<p>It prefers subtropical and tropical shrubland at 800 to 4,100 m (2,600–13,500 ft) altitude.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The IUCN classifies the Andean tinamou as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 550,000 km2 (210,000 sq mi).
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-chested Tyrant
Taeniotriccus andrei
Striking small flycatcher with a black crest. Has a chestnut head, a black breast band, and gray underparts. Males have a black back, females an olive back. Note the yellow feather edges to the wings in both sexes. Inhabits the understory of humid forest, dense second growth, and seasonally flooded forests, favoring areas with dense vine tangles or bamboo. The song is a series of low “chewp” notes interspersed with double “chewp-chewp” notes, easily mistaken for a frog or insect.
Velvet-browed Brilliant
Heliodoxa xanthogonys
Large, dark hummingbird. Common in tepui highlands. Male is mostly shining green, especially on the throat, breast, and forehead; female is white below with extensive green spotting. Both sexes have conspicuous white spot behind eye. Occurs in a wide variety of habitats including tall forest, edge, and open scrub at middle and high elevations (above 800 m) in tepui region. Feeds on nectar and defends patches of flowers from other hummingbirds. Gives loud, sharp chip note while foraging. No other large, green hummingbird occurs in its limited range.
Tanimbar Starling
Aplonis crassa
A uniformly blackish starling with a medium-length square tail and a dark eye. Juveniles browner, with streaking below and a rufous-tinged tail. Occurs in the canopy of forest edges, wooded areas, and mangroves, where it is usually encountered in pairs or small groups. Confined to the Tanimbar Islands. Noticeably shorter-tailed than Metallic Starling, with less colorful plumage gloss and a dark eye. Calls include a harsh, metallic “brrrrrit” and a disyllabic “tzewit.”
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