Photo: David F. Belmonte / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-winged Tinamou
Rhynchotus rufescens
Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) — Ratites & Tinamous of South America.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) is a member of the Tinamidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 843 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Tinamiformes
- Family Tinamidae Tinamous
- Genus Rhynchotus
- Species rufescens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 843 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Tinamidae
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-winged Tinamou is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-winged Tinamou is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) is a member of the Tinamidae family, within the order Tinamiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA e, se, sc.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 843 g, with a wing length of about 20.9 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-winged Tinamou?
The Red-winged Tinamou is a large bird that weighs around 843 g.
Where does the Red-winged Tinamou live?
The Red-winged Tinamou is found across South America with a range covering SA e, se, sc, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-winged Tinamou belong to?
The Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) belongs to the Tinamidae family, in the order Tinamiformes.
What does the Red-winged Tinamou eat?
The Red-winged Tinamou is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red-winged Tinamou migrate?
The Red-winged Tinamou is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-winged Tinamou endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red-winged Tinamou make?
5 real field recordings of the Red-winged Tinamou — including its song and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-winged Tinamou's range?
The Red-winged Tinamou has a mapped global range of about 5.7 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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