| Grey Tinamou | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Tinamiformes |
| Family: | Tinamidae |
| Subfamily: | Tinaminae |
| Genus: | Tinamus |
| Species: | T. tao |
| Binomial name | |
| Tinamus tao Temminck, 1815[2] |
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| Sub-species | |
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T. t. larensis (Phelps & Phelps, 1949) |
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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.[1][3]
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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.[4]
The Grey Tinamou has several subspecies:
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.[1] This Tinamou has shown the ability to utilize forests that have been cleared by logging.[1] As most other tinamous, its song is commonly heard, but it is shy and only infrequently seen.
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.
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.[4]
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)[1]