Tinamous (Order Tinamiformes) are ground dwelling birds. They are generally well camouflaged birds, with patterned plumage that ranges from light to dark brown or gray. They tire easily when flying or running, so their plumage helps them to blend into their surroundings to avoid predators such as humans, skunks, foxes, and armadillos.
Tinamous range in size up to about 50 cm in length and reach weights of about 2 kg. They roost on the ground and lay up to about a dozen eggs per clutch. Females occasionally share the same nest.
- Mass:
- Length:
- Diet: seeds, insects, termites, small vertebrates such as lizards or mice
- Breeding Season:
- Clutch Size:
- Time to Hatching:
- Time to Fledging:
- Sexual Maturity:
Classification:
Where to See:
Neotropics. Tropical rain forests, grasslands, semiarid regions.
References:
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
- Howard L. 2003. Order Tinamiformes. Animal Diversity Web. November 29, 2008.
