Grey Tinamou
The Grey Tinamou (Tinamus tao) is a type of ground bird found throughout western and northern Brazil, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, Colombia east of the Andes, northern Venezuela, northern Bolivia, and Guyana.
Taxonomy
All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also Ratites. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
The Grey Tinamou has several subspecies:
The Grey Tinamou has several subspecies:
- T. t. larensis with a range in the montane forests of central Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
- T. t. kleei with a range of south-central Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, eastern Bolivia, and western Brazil.
- T. t. septentrionalis with a range of northeastern Venezuela and possible northwestern Guyana.
- T. t. tao with a range of north central Brazil, far eastern Peru, and far northwestern Bolivia.
Range
In most of its range it is essentially restricted to humid lowland forests, but in the northern and far western parts of its range it mainly occurs in montane forests. This Tinamou has shown the ability to utilize forests that have been cleared by logging. As most other tinamous, its song is commonly heard, but it is shy and only infrequently seen.
Description
With a total length of 46 cm (18 in), it is among the largest tinamous.
As suggested by its name, it is mostly grey. The back and head are
barred blackish, and its vent is cinnamon. White spotting extends along
the head and down the neck.
Behavior
Like other Tinamous, the male incubates the eggs on the nest that is
located in heavy brush on the ground. After incubation, the male will
also raise them for the short period of time until they are ready. They
eat fruit and seeds from the ground and bushes that are low to the
ground.
Conservation
This species has not shown population loss and is considered by the IUCN to be a Least Concern status, and has a range occurrence of 3,600,000 km² (1,400,000 sq mi).
