Spotted Nothura

     The Spotted Nothura is a Tinamou species native to grassy habitats in eastern and southern Brazil, eastern and northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Overall, this small tinamou is cryptically patterned with brown and black mottling on a pale brownish base color. And this provides a perfect camouflage in terrestrial grassland situations where it lives.

     There are eight recognized subspecies for the Spotted Nothura which form a cline from smaller, darker birds in the north to larger, paler birds in the south. 

     The breeding season varies between places, for example; in Argentina, it extends at least from August until April. And in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the peak of egg laying is in October and November. The clutch size of the Spotted Nothura varies from 3 to 9, with a mean of 5 and only the male incubates the eggs. The incubation period is 16 – 18 days and the male also cares for the young after hatching until they become independent after 3 – 4 weeks.