White-throated Tinamou
Tinamus guttatus
Secretive chickenlike bird that walks on the ground inside forest. Very plump; looks tailless. A large tinamou but smaller than similar Great. If seen well, look for distinctive pale spotting on wings along with white throat and lower belly. Fairly common and widespread in lowland Amazonian forest, occasionally up into the foothills. Far more often heard than seen: listen for its haunting song, a pair of low hoots, the second note rising.
Identification
The white-throated tinamou has chestnut-brown upperparts with blackish streaking on lower back and small yellowish-white spots. It has paler underparts with wider, dark barring on flanks. It has a grey head and neck, with a white throat, brown eye, and brown bill. These birds measure between 32 and 36 cm (13 and 14 in) in length.
Taxonomy
All tinamous are from the family Tinamidae and members of the infraclass Palaeognathae. Tinamous are the only members from their infraclass that aren't ratites, and can even fly, albeit poorly. All paleognaths evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds. The white-throated tinamou is a member of the genus Tinamus, which consists of some of the larger tinamous, the white-throated tinamou being the smallest member of the genus. It was first described by Austrian ornithologist August von Pelzeln in 1863. It is a monotypic species, meaning it doesn't branch off into subspecies.
- Scientific name
- Tinamus guttatus
- Authority
- Pelzeln, 1863
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Tinamus
Range and habitat
They inhabit sub-tropical and tropical lowland forests at around 500 m (1,600 ft) or lower. They eat seeds, fruits and invertebrates.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like other tinamous, the white-throated tinamou eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes, as well as invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as four different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually two to three weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.
Conservation
It is a relatively abundant species in its habitat and the main threat to it is deforestation. As of 2012 the status of the white-throated tinamou is Near Threatened, and it has a range occurrence of 4,000,000 km2 (1,500,000 sq mi). Its eggs are prized possessions to some collectors.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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