Grey Tinamou

About the Grey Tinamou

The grey tinamou (Tinamus tao) is a type of ground bird native to South America. Four subspecies are recognised. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.

The grey tinamou has several subspecies: T. t. larensis with a range in the montane forests of central Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. T. t. kleei with a range of south-central Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, eastern Bolivia, and western Brazil.

T. t. septentrionalis with a range of northeastern Venezuela and possibly northwestern Guyana. T. t. tao with a range of north central Brazil, far eastern Peru, and far northwestern Bolivia. The gray tinamou is believed to be the largest species among the tinamous. Reported total length

is from 41.5 to 49 cm (16.3 to 19.3 in) and possibly as much as 53 cm (21 in). In body mass, males may scale from 1,325 to 1,863 g (2.921 to 4.107 lb), averaging 1,565 g (3.450 lb), and females can weigh from 1,430 to 2,080 g (3.15 to 4.59 lb), averaging 1,636 g (3.607 lb) and possibly weighing as much as... Wikipedia →