Undulated Tinamou

Undulated Tinamou is an omnipresent river forest species and second growth in the Amazon Basin which also occurs in the drier tropical and subtropical regions of South Central and Eastern South America. Like for other members of the genus Crypturellus, the plumage lacks simple colour patterns. Undulated Tinamou, an omnivore ground foraging, feeds on tiny fruits, seeds, and insects and is considered to be fairly widespread across its range. The signature melody of three notes is perhaps one of the first songs of birds recorded in Amazonia. Undulated Tinamou is a species of Tinamous found in Eastern and North America in a wide variety of varied wooded habitats. The signature song of three notes is also one of the first sounds of birds recorded in Amazonia. Unlike other tinamou species, the Undulated tinamou plumage lacks the simple patterns of colour that are characteristic of other bird families. It is a brownish-gray animal with black barring on the rear and tail. The undulated tinamou also has a light coloured throat, and grey, dark yellow or greenish feet and legs. Six subspecies are recognised by the Undulated tinamou which differ primarily in coloration and variety of living conditions. The Undulated tinamou's nest consists of a ground depression where about 3 glossy vinaceous-pink or light-gray eggs are laid by the female. The male will incubate the eggs for 17 days, and will do all the parental care before fully independent hatchlings. The ondulated tinamou (Crypturellus undulatus) is a genus of ground birds found in various wooded areas in eastern and northern South America. Both tinamous are of the tribe of Tinamidae, and are thus ratites in the wider scheme. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can float but in general they are not strong fliers. All ratites derived from ancient flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative to these birds. The undulated tinamou is about 28 to 30 cm long, weighing approximately 300 grammes. This is brownish tinged grey overall to various degrees depending on the subspecies and has a simple, black barred to thin vermiculated pattern on the back and neck (e.g., while C. u. undulatus is comparatively rich brown and strongly barred, C. u. yapura is darker, more grey tinged and has only minor vermiculations). It has a whitish throat, and much of its subparts are olive-gray to buff on its lower flanks, with deep vermiculation to vent. Its bill is black above it and white below it. The feet and legs are brown, pale and yellow or greenish. The ondulated nest of tinamou consists of a ground depression, where the female lays about three glossy pink vinaceous or light grey eggs. Incubation time is 17 days in captivity. It feeds on flies, seeds, plants and. Like other tinamous ones, the ondulated tinamou is enigmatic, and is heard more often than seen. Commonly performed during the day, the song consists of a loud, three or four noted whistle represented by the onomatopoetic com-pra pan (in Spanish "buy bread") or Eu sou jaó (in Portuguese "I am undulated tinamou"). The undulated tinamou occurs at altitudes of up to 900 m. This occurs in a wide variety of wooded habitats, from dense Amazonian tropical forests to dry, relatively open savanna-woodland. Although most of the undulated tinamou distribution is in the Amazon Basin, small portions are in drier areas such as the Cerrado (a large portion of the C. u. vermiculatus distribution is in the Cerrado). Small seasonal changes occur locally within species, although typically considered resident. Though heavily hunted in some areas, the ondulated tinamou remains common in most parts of its range. It is classified by the IUCN as the Least Concern, and its area of occurrence was estimated at 8,600,000 km2.