The slaty-breasted tinamou or Boucard's tinamou is a type of tinamou commonly found in lowland moist forests of Mexico and Central America.
Region
Central America
Typical Environment
Occurs from southeastern Mexico through Belize and Guatemala to Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. It inhabits humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, swamp forests, and dense secondary growth, usually where understory cover is thick. The species keeps to the forest floor and favors areas with abundant leaf litter and nearby fruiting trees. It generally avoids open areas and heavily disturbed habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called Boucard's tinamou, this shy ground-dweller stays hidden in dense lowland rainforest and is far more often heard than seen. Males incubate and raise the brood, often from a clutch laid by multiple females. Its low, mournful whistles carry at dawn and dusk through humid forests.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups. Nests are shallow scrapes on the forest floor, well-concealed among leaf litter. The male incubates and cares for the chicks, which are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives low, mournful whistles or booming notes, usually in a slow series. Vocalizations are most frequent at dawn and dusk and can carry surprisingly far through dense forest.
