The tepui tinamou is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest on tepuis, in southeastern Venezuela.
Region
Guiana Highlands (tepui region) of southeastern Venezuela
Typical Environment
Occurs on humid, mossy montane forests and forest edges on and around tepui table mountains. It favors dense understory, bamboo thickets, and sheltered ravines with abundant leaf litter. Birds typically keep to the forest floor but may move onto more open, fern-dominated slopes at dawn and dusk. The rugged terrain and patchy habitat create a naturally fragmented distribution tied to individual tepui massifs.
Altitude Range
1000–2200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The tepui tinamou is a shy, ground-dwelling tinamou restricted to the humid, forested slopes and summits of Venezuelan tepuis. Tinamous are paleognath birds related to ratites, but unlike most of their relatives they are capable of short, explosive flight. This species’ remote, rugged habitat offers some protection from heavy human disturbance. Its haunting, whistled calls often reveal its presence long before it is seen.
Temperament
shy and elusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with explosive flushes
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense cover and moving quietly along the forest floor. Nests are simple ground scrapes hidden among roots or buttresses. Males undertake much of the incubation and chick care, as in many tinamous. Territories are maintained with vocalizations more than visual displays.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers low, mournful, whistled notes, often in spaced series that carry far through the forest. Calls are most frequent at dawn and dusk and can sound ventriloquial, making the bird hard to locate.
