One of the 5 partridges on WAnimals
Birds · Tinamiformes · Tinamidae
Red-winged Tinamou
Rhynchotus rufescens
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
The red-winged tinamou — known in Spanish as tinamú alirrojo, inambú colorado or yuto colorado, and also as martineta de alas coloradas and perdiz colorada — is a ground bird of the family Tinamidae native to southern Brazil, the edge of Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and central and northern Argentina. Like all tinamous, this species is much sought after for shooting, and its population has fallen sharply with the advance of farming and the lack of controls on hunting. The species has recovered quickly in protected habitats. Overall it is not considered threatened, but two subspecies, R. r. rufescens and R. r. pallescens, are listed under CITES because of pressure from the live bird trade. It has been introduced into Europe and the United States on shooting estates.
Weight
803 g – 886 g
Size
38 cm – 41 cm
Lifespan
10 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- Its fluted three-note call at dusk is one of the most recognisable sounds of the countryside around the River Plate, and is frequently mentioned in gaucho literature.
- Like all tinamous, the male incubates the eggs of several females in the same nest and raises the chicks alone, while they mate with other males.
- Its eggs are a glossy, polished violet-pink, an extraordinary colour for a nest set directly on the ground among the grass.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Tall grassland, cerrado, farmland and savanna of central and eastern South America
- Sexual maturity
- 12 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 21 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 6 eggs
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhynchotus_rufescens
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 10 de 12 documentados.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Red-winged Tinamou — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Elegant Crested Tinamou
Eudromia elegans
Smooth-billed Ani
Crotophaga ani
American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica
Least ConcernToco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus
Black-and-white Tegu
Tupinambis merianae
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