Grey Tinamou
Tinamus tao
Grey Tinamou (Tinamus tao) — Ratites & Tinamous of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey Tinamou (Tinamus tao) is a member of the Tinamidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Tinamiformes
- Family Tinamidae Tinamous
- Genus Tinamus
- Species tao
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.6 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Tinamou is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Grey Tinamou is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey Tinamou (Tinamus tao) belongs to the Tinamidae family of the order Tinamiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.6 kg, with a wing length of about 27.9 cm and a tail of around 12.6 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Tinamou?
The Grey Tinamou is a very large bird that weighs around 1.6 kg.
Where does the Grey Tinamou live?
The Grey Tinamou is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey Tinamou belong to?
The Grey Tinamou (Tinamus tao) belongs to the Tinamidae family, in the order Tinamiformes.
What does the Grey Tinamou eat?
The Grey Tinamou is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Grey Tinamou migrate?
The Grey Tinamou is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey Tinamou endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Grey Tinamou make?
4 real field recordings of the Grey Tinamou — including its song and call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey Tinamou's range?
The Grey Tinamou has a mapped global range of about 3.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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