White-throated tinamou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-throated tinamou |
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Tinamus
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guttatus
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The white-throated tinamou (Tinamus guttatus) is a bird that lives in the Amazon rainforest. You can find it in Brazil, northern Bolivia, southeastern Colombia, northeastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and southern Venezuela.
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About the White-Throated Tinamou's Name
The scientific name for this bird, Tinamus guttatus, comes from two different languages. The word Tinamus was given to these birds by the Kalina people. The word Guttatus means "speckled" in Latin. This name might describe the yellowish-white spots on the bird's lower back.
Tinamous: Ancient Birds That Can Fly
All tinamous belong to the family Tinamidae. They are part of a group of birds called Palaeognathae. This group includes large, flightless birds like ostriches and emus, which are called ratites.
But tinamous are special! They are the only birds in their group that are not ratites. They can even fly, though not very well. Scientists believe that all paleognaths evolved from ancient flying birds. Tinamous are the closest living relatives to these old birds.
The white-throated tinamou is a member of the genus Tinamus. This group includes some of the larger tinamous. Even so, the white-throated tinamou is the smallest bird in its genus. An Austrian bird expert named August von Pelzeln first described this bird in 1863. It is a "monotypic species," which means it does not have any different types or subspecies.
What Does a White-Throated Tinamou Look Like?
The white-throated tinamou has a chestnut-brown back. It has black streaks on its lower back and small yellowish-white spots. Its belly is lighter in color, with wider, dark stripes on its sides.
This bird has a gray head and neck. It has a white throat, a brown eye, and a brown beak. These birds are usually about 32 to 36 cm (13 to 14 in) long.
What Do White-Throated Tinamous Eat and How Do They Reproduce?
Like other tinamous, the white-throated tinamou eats many different things. They find fruit on the ground or on low bushes. They also eat invertebrates (like insects), flower buds, soft leaves, seeds, and roots.
When it's time to have babies, the male tinamou does most of the work. He incubates the eggs, which might come from up to four different females. He then raises the young birds until they are ready to live on their own. This usually takes about two to three weeks. The nest is built on the ground in thick bushes or between large tree roots.
Where Do White-Throated Tinamous Live?
These birds live in warm, wet lowland forests. You can find them at elevations of about 500 m (1,600 ft) or lower. They find their food, like seeds, fruits, and invertebrates, in these forests.
Protecting the White-Throated Tinamou
The white-throated tinamou is quite common in its home. However, its biggest threat is deforestation, which is when forests are cut down. As of 2012, this bird is listed as Near Threatened. This means it could become endangered if its habitat keeps shrinking. Its home range covers about 4,000,000 km2 (1,500,000 sq mi). Sadly, some people collect their eggs, which also harms the species.
See also
In Spanish: Inambú gallina para niños
