Tinamú Patigrís
Gray-legged Tinamou
Crypturellus duidae
Song
Gray-legged Tinamou
Appearance: The Gray-legged Tinamou is a medium-sized bird with a mottled brown plumage, a reddish-brown crown, and a distinctive grey lower leg, which gives it its name. They have a short, rounded tail, a small head, and a stout body with cryptic plumage, providing camouflage in their forest habitat.
Habitat: Gray-legged Tinamous inhabit tropical and subtropical moist montane forests of eastern Colombia, typically found at elevations ranging from 100 to 400 m. They prefer dense undergrowth, thickets, and forest floors where they can forage for seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small animals.
Behavior: Gray-legged Tinamous are secretive birds that are primarily terrestrial, preferring to walk or run rather than fly when disturbed. They are known to be most active during early morning and late afternoon, foraging on the forest floor using their strong legs and beak.
Breeding: These birds are monogamous and form pair bonds during the breeding season. The female lays a small clutch of eggs in a shallow ground nest, typically concealed under dense vegetation for protection.
Distribution
The Gray-legged Tinamou (Crypturellus duidae) is a species of tinamou found in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. In Colombia, the Gray-legged Tinamou is primarily distributed in the Andes mountains, specifically in the northern and central regions of the country where suitable montane forest habitat exists.
Specifically, in Colombia, the Gray-legged Tinamou can be found in the Andean Cordilleras, including the Eastern Andes and the Central Andes. They typically inhabit tropical and subtropical moist montane forests, particularly in areas with dense undergrowth, thickets, and forest floors, at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,700 meters above sea level.The Gray-legged Tinamou is a secretive and elusive bird that prefers to forage on the forest floor, feeding on seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small animals. Due to their cryptic plumage and shy behavior, they are challenging to observe in the wild.
Taxonomy
The Gray-legged Tinamou (Crypturellus duidae)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Tinamiformes
- Family: Tinamidae
- Genus: Crypturellus
- Species: Crypturellus duidae
Vocalization
Whistled Calls: Gray-legged Tinamous produce clear, melodious whistles that are often repeated at regular intervals. These whistled calls are typically used for territorial advertisement and to maintain contact with other individuals.
Booming Calls: During the breeding season, male Gray-legged Tinamous may emit low-pitched booming calls to attract females and establish dominance within their territory. These booming calls can be deep and resonant, carrying over long distances in the forest.
Chattering Calls: Gray-legged Tinamous can also make rapid chattering or trilling sounds, especially during interactions with conspecifics or when alarmed. These chattering calls may serve as warning signals or expressions of agitation.
Chirping Calls: In addition to whistles and booms, Gray-legged Tinamous may produce short, rapid chirping sounds to communicate with nearby individuals or in response to external stimuli.
Contact Calls: Soft, subtle contact calls are used by Gray-legged Tinamous to maintain group cohesion or communicate with family members while foraging or moving through the forest understory. The vocal repertoire of the Gray-legged Tinamou is diverse and serves various purposes in social interactions, territorial defense, and mate attraction.
