The hooded tinamou is a type of ground bird found in forests of Bolivia and Peru.
Region
Andean Yungas (Peru and Bolivia)
Typical Environment
The hooded tinamou inhabits humid montane and cloud forests along the eastern slopes of the central Andes. It favors dense understory, bamboo patches, and mossy thickets where it can move quietly along the forest floor. Birds are most often recorded in mature forest but may also use secondary growth adjacent to intact habitat. They keep close to cover, frequently along steep ravines and stream corridors. Human disturbance tends to push them into more remote, less accessible tracts.
Altitude Range
900–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Tinamous are among the most ancient lineages of living birds and close relatives of ratites, yet unlike ostriches and emus they can fly short distances. In hooded tinamous, males incubate eggs—often from multiple females—and lead the downy chicks soon after hatching. They are extremely shy, relying on camouflage and stillness to avoid detection on the forest floor.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; explosive flush from cover
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, moving quietly along the forest floor and freezing when threatened. Nests are simple ground scrapes well hidden in dense vegetation. Males incubate and care for the chicks, a hallmark of tinamous, and clutches may include eggs from multiple females. Chicks are precocial and follow the male soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, mellow series of whistled, flute-like notes often delivered at dawn and dusk. The call carries through the forest and can be heard at considerable distances. Vocalizations are typically simple but resonant and repeated at intervals.
