Birds · Tinamiformes · Tinamidae

Elegant Crested Tinamou

Eudromia elegans

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The elegant crested tinamou is a tinamou of open country native to Argentina, recognisable by a long crest of fine feathers that springs from its forehead and curves forwards. It lives in groups on grassland and steppe and would rather run than fly. Its eggs are a bright, glazed green. It is a traditional game bird in Argentina and its population is declining as grassland is converted to cropland.

Weight

400 g – 800 g

Size

39 cm – 41 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertGrasslandOmnivore Diurnal Bird Desert Grassland

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Fun facts

GeneralIt runs rather than flies, and has a fine curved crest on its head.
Its eggs are a bright, polished jade green, so conspicuous that it is disconcerting to find them in an open nest on the ground: it has been suggested that the gloss confuses predators by reflecting the surroundings.
Its forward-curving crest is unique among tinamous and gives it an unmistakable silhouette on the steppe.
It would rather run crouched than fly, and only takes off at the last moment with a noisy clatter of wings and a short, low glide.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Grassland, Patagonian steppe, shrubland and farmland of central and southern Argentina
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 21 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 8 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/