Thicket Tinamou
Crypturellus cinnamomeus
A furtive, ‘tail-less’ gamebird that lives on the ground in tropical woodland and forest. Rarely seen (sometimes crosses quiet roads or trails), but haunting whistled song is often heard, especially early and late in the day. Note distinct pale barring on upperparts and bright reddish legs. Birds in West Mexico are paler and grayer overall, those in East Mexico and Central America have a rusty-colored breast and belly.
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.<p>René-Primevère Lesson identified the thicket tinamou from a specimen from La Unión, El Salvador., in 1842.<p>The thicket tinamou has many subspecies as follows:
- Scientific name
- Crypturellus cinnamomeus
- Authority
- (Lesson, RP, 1842)
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Genus
- Crypturellus
Range and habitat
This species prefers moist lowland forest, gallery forest, deciduous forest, and secondary forest in subtropical and tropical regions, but will be found in shrubland and drier forests up to 1,850 m (6,070 ft) altitude. This species ranges from Sinaloa, (coastal strip, western Mexico), to Costa Rica, and eastern coastal Mexico, from the United States border into Belize. In the southern part of its range it ventures into the highlands as well.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The species has a monotonous voice ‘whoo-oo’, sounding like a steam engine. The thicket tinamou can be found in pairs, families or as a solitary bird and, like most tinamous, it prefers to walk than fly.<p>Like most tinamous, it will eat fruit, seeds and invertebrates.<p>Like most tinamous, it will place its nest on the ground alongside raised roots. It will contain around three eggs, but as many as seven, that are glossy and purple in color. This species and the slaty-breasted tinamou will produce hybrids.
Conservation
The IUCN lists this bird as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 600,000 km2 (230,000 sq mi).
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown Accentor
Prunella fulvescens
A relatively plain bird of open areas with scattered thickets in alpine and subalpine regions. Well-marked but not striking: gray-brown above with a dark face, a snowy white eyebrow and belly, and a soft orange wash on the throat and breast. Usually seen foraging on the ground, but male often perches on top of a small tree or a building to give his song: a repetitive, but somewhat musical trill.
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Boldly patterned thrush is bright rusty-brown above with black spots on the white belly. Smaller than a robin, but larger than Hermit Thrush. Sticks to wooded areas, often hopping on the ground. More often heard than seen: listen for its incredible, flute-like song. Population is declining; winters in Central America.
Emperor Goose
Anser canagicus
Stocky goose that inhabits rocky coastlines, lagoons, and tidal flats. Striking white head, black throat, and petite pink bill. Blue-gray body with intricate black-and white bars, a white tail, and bright orange legs. Face sometimes stained orangish-brown. Juvenile has a gray head, but still shows white tail. Breeds on marshy tundra and winters in small flocks on coastal waters. Rarely seen outside Alaska.
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