Bartlett's Tinamou

Crypturellus bartletti

Small tinamou of floodplain rainforest. Reddish brown with limited black barring on the wings. Found in tall lowland rainforest, especially around water and in seasonally flooded areas, and can be quite common. Listen for a series of whistles given at a pace of about one note per four seconds that gradually accelerates until about twice as fast; recalls the song of Cinereous Tinamou, but faster and usually accelerating.

Identification

The Bartlett's tinamou is approximately 27 cm (11 in) in length. Its upperparts are brown above barred with black, throat and belly are white, remainder of underparts are rufous, flanks are barred black, and its crown is blackish.

Taxonomy

The Bartlett's tinamou 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 bartletti
Authority
(Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1873)
Order
Tinamiformes
Family
Tinamidae
Genus
Crypturellus

Range and habitat

Bartlett's tinamou is found in swamp and lowland forest in subtropical and tropical regions up to 500 m (1,600 ft) altitude. This species is native to western Amazonian Brazil, northern Bolivia, and eastern Peru, in South America. It is also found in eastern Ecuador. Over its range, it is considered uncommon.

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Like other tinamous, the Bartlett's 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 classify this tinamou as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 1,600,000 km2 (620,000 sq mi).

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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