Solitary Tinamou

Tinamus solitarius
Zimttinamu

Classification: paleognath ground birds, Tinamidae
Distribution: South America
Habitat: tropical forest, montane forest
Size: 42 – 48 cm
Weight: 1,5 – 1,9 kg
Clutch size: 6 – 14 eggs (from several females)
Incubation: 19 days
Diet: seeds, fruit, invertebrates

Tinamous look more like chicken, but they belong to the ratites (ostrich, emu, nandu). They have a stout body and almost no tail. Although they can fly, they are normally on ground. They are very shy and stay hidden in the undergrowth. Males maintain a territory and claim several females. They will mate all females entering the territory.

The eggs are blue with a glossy shell. During incubation the gloss fades. Several females are laying the eggs in a common nest. After the egg deposition they leave the territory and look out for another male. Only the male incubates the clutch and cares for the chicks.