Puna tinamou

Tinamotis pentlandii

Photo by Rodrigo Moraga (World Bird Info)

Common name:
puna tinamou (en); tinamú-da-puna (pt); tinamou quioula (fr); perdiz de la puna (es); punasteißhuhn (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Tinamiformes
Family Tinamidae

Range:
This species is found in high altitude areas of the Andes, from southern Peru and western Bolivia to northern Chile and north-western Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 39-45 cm long and weigh around 900 g.

Habitat:
The puna tinamou is found in high-altitude grasslands and sometimes also in scrublands, at altitudes of 3.500-5.300 m.

Diet:
They feed on buds, leaves, shoots, flowers and grasses.

Breeding:
Puna tinamous do not construct a nest or scrape, simply laying their eggs on the ground under the shelter of some vegetation. The female lays 4-8 green eggs with yellowish spots. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods, but after hatching the chicks gather in groups composed of young from several broods which are attended by several males.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.