How many species of tinamou are there?

47 species
Tinamou, (order Tinamiformes), any of about 47 species of ground-dwelling birds found in Central and South America. Tinamous superficially resemble partridges and quail but have limited flight capability, preferring to walk or run rather than fly. Most inhabit forests, but some live in more open terrain.

Why are tinamou eggs colorful?

The colour of the tinamou’s eggs is due to the interplay between pigment coloration and what is known as nanostructure coloration. Eggs normally get their hue from a naturally-occurring chemical (pigment) that gives them a flat color. Underneath their iridescent coating, tinamou’s eggs are a regular old shade of blue.

Can Tinamou fly?

Unlike the related ratites, tinamous can fly, though poorly and reluctantly, preferring to walk or run. When forced to take to the air, they do so only for short distances at high speed. Their small wings give them a high wing loading.

What does a tinamou look like?

Tinamous are plump, compact birds with slender necks, small heads and, usually, short, decurved bills, though a few have long bills. Females are usually larger than the males.

How big does a great tinamou get to be?

The great tinamou is a large species of tinamou, measuring in total length at approximately 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in), with a mean of 44 cm (17 in), and weighing from 700 to 1,142 g (1.543 to 2.518 lb) in males, with a mean of 960 g (2.12 lb), and from 945 to 1,249 g (2.083 to 2.754 lb) in females, with a mean of 1,097 g (2.418 lb).

What kind of animals do great tinamous eat?

Except during mating, when a pair stay together until the eggs are laid, great tinamous are solitary and roam the dark understory alone, seeking seeds, fruit, and small animals such as insects, spiders, frogs and small lizards in the leaf litter. They are especially fond of Lauraceae, annonaceae, myrtaceae, sapotaceae.

Who was the first person to identify Tinamus?

Apstein appears to have been the first to select a genotype for Tinamus Hermann. Fortunately, it is the same species as the one designated by G. R. Gray (List Gen. Bds., p. 63, 1840) as genotype of Tinamus Latham, viz., Tetrao major Gmelin.” (Hellmayr & Conover 1942, XIII, 6-7).

How many species of tinamou are there? 47 species Tinamou, (order Tinamiformes), any of about 47 species of ground-dwelling birds found in Central and South America. Tinamous superficially resemble partridges and quail but have limited flight capability, preferring to walk or run rather than fly. Most inhabit forests, but some live in more open terrain.…