The grey tinamou is a type of ground bird native to South America. Four subspecies are recognised.
Region
Northern and western Amazon Basin and Andean foothills
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, including terra firme and seasonally flooded várzea. Prefers dense understory and areas with abundant fruiting trees, often near forest streams and along quiet trails. It uses primary forest but can persist in tall secondary growth if disturbance is limited. Generally avoids open habitats and farmlands, keeping to extensive forest blocks.
Altitude Range
100–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The grey tinamou is one of the largest tinamous and a shy, ground-dwelling forest bird of northern South America. Like other tinamous, it can fly but usually only in short, explosive bursts when flushed. Males incubate clutches that may contain eggs from multiple females and also care for the chicks. Its low, mournful whistles carry far through the forest at dawn and dusk.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense cover. Breeding is polygynandrous; females may lay in multiple males’ nests, and the male incubates and rears the brood. Nests are simple scrapes lined with leaves on the forest floor, often at the base of a tree or in dense vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives low, mournful, far-carrying whistles, often a series of spaced notes repeated at intervals. Most vocal at dawn and dusk, with calls that can be heard from considerable distances through forest.
