Highland Tinamou

Highland Tinamou

Nothocercus bonapartei

Silhouette: George Edward Lodge · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Arenal Volcano National Park
46 Verified sightings at Arenal Volcano National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,153 Verified sightings across all 16 parks From 2019 to 2026
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

About the Highland Tinamou

The highland tinamou or Bonaparte's tinamou (Nothocercus bonapartei) is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest typically over 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.

It has five subspecies: N. b. frantzii occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. N. b. bonapartei occurs in northwestern Venezuela and northern Colombia. N. b. discrepans occurs in central Colombia (Tolima and Meta provinces).

N. b. intercedens occurs in the western Andes of Colombia. N. b. plumbeiceps occurs in the Andes of eastern Ecuador and far northern Peru. George Robert Gray identified the highland tinamou from a specimen from Aragua, Venezuela, in 1867.

The specific name bonapartei, a Latin genitive of the name Bonaparte, commemorates Charles Lucien Bonaparte. The highland tinamou averages 38.5 cm (15.2 in) long, and weighs 925 g (2.039 lb). Its plumage is mottled... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Arenal Volcano National Park

Great Tinamou
LC

Great Tinamou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tinamus major

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Little Tinamou
LC

Little Tinamou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crypturellus soui

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
2 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
3 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
4 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
5 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
6 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
7 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
8 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
9 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
10 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
11 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
12 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
13 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
14 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
15 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
16 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Highland Tinamou in Arenal Volcano National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Highland Tinamou sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Highland Tinamou in Arenal Volcano National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Highland Tinamou in Arenal Volcano National Park in our monthly data.

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