Highland Tinamou

The Highland Tinamou or Bonaparte's Tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest typically over 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also Ratites. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these bir... more

The Highland Tinamou or Bonaparte's Tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest typically over 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also Ratites. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds. It has five subspecies: George Robert Gray identified the Highland Tinamou from a specimen from Aragua, Venezuela, in 1867. bonapartei comes from the Latin form of Bonaparte to commemorate Charles Lucien Bonaparte. The highland tinamou averages 38 cm (15 in) long, and weighs 925 g (2.04 lb). Its plumage is mottled or barred with black and cinnamon on back and wings with a rufous throat. The Highland Tinamou is a shy Tinamou and usually solitary or in small groups of up to five. It likes to eat fruit from the ground or hanging from low... less