Great Tinamou

     The Great Tinamou is a large Tinamou of lowland forests from southern Mexico south through the Amazon basin. There are several subspecies, mostly differentiated by their coloration and place of living.

     Great tinamous have the shape of a small Turkey and they range in colors from light to dark olive-green, with a whitish throat and belly. It has also rufous crown and neck, and blue-grey legs. All these features enable the Great tinamou to be well-camouflaged in the rainforest understory.

     The breeding season of the Great tinamou is long, lasting from mid-winter to late summer. The female lays an average of 4 eggs which are incubated only by the male for almost 17 days. Great tinamou’s nest usually contains eggs laid by several females. The male cares for the chicks for approximately 3 weeks before moving on to form a new brood. While, the female Great tinamou may start nests with 5 or 6 males during each breeding season, leaving all parental care to the males.