Brown Tinamou
Crypturellus obsoletus
The Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus) is a uncommon tinamou found in 9 countries, weighing about 443 g. The brown tinamou is a brownish ground bird found in humid lowland and montane forest in tropical and subtropical South America.
About the Brown Tinamou
The brown tinamou is a brownish ground bird found in humid lowland and montane forest in tropical and subtropical South America.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The brown tinamou is approximately 25 to 30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in length and it weighs about 350 to 550 g (12–19 oz). Depending on the subspecies involved, the upperparts vary from dark sooty-brown to bright chestnut and the underparts, which usually are paler than the upperparts, vary from chestnut to light ochraceous. The subspecies griseiventris is unique in having pale buff-grey underparts. All subspecies can be separated from the superficially similar little tinamou by the greyish (rather than whitish) throat. Females are typically larger and more rufescent than the males.
What the Brown Tinamou sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Brown Tinamou can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Brown Tinamou?
- The brown tinamou is approximately 25 to 30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in length and it weighs about 350 to 550 g (12–19 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Brown Tinamou?
- The Brown Tinamou is a large sized bird weighing about 443 g.
- Where can you see a Brown Tinamou?
- The Brown Tinamou occurs in 9 countries, including Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
- What does a Brown Tinamou sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Brown Tinamou on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Brown Tinamou?
- The Brown Tinamou is most easily confused with the Cinereous Tinamou, the Thicket Tinamou and the Tataupa Tinamou.
- Is the Brown Tinamou endangered?
- The Brown Tinamou is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Brown Tinamou for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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