Highland tinamou
The highland tinamou or Bonaparte's tinamou is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest typically over altitude.
Taxonomy
All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. Unlike other ratites, tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.It has five subspecies:N. b. frantzii occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.N. b. bonapartei occurs in northwestern Venezuela and northern Colombia.N. b. discrepans occurs in central Colombia.N. b. intercedens occurs in the western Andes of Colombia.N. b. plumbeiceps occurs in the Andes of eastern Ecuador and far northern Peru.
George Robert Gray identified the highland tinamou from a specimen from Aragua, Venezuela, in 1867.
Etymology
The specific name bonapartei, a Latin genitive of the name Bonaparte, commemorates Charles Lucien Bonaparte.Description
The highland tinamou averages long, and weighs. Its plumage is mottled or barred with black and cinnamon on back and wings with a rufous throat.Behavior
The highland tinamou is a shy tinamou and usually solitary or in small groups of up to five. It likes to eat fruit from the ground or hanging from low plants, and will sometimes eat insects. Its call is a repetitive loud and hollow call by the male.During breeding season, the male will incubate the eggs which may be from more than one female and may consist of 4–12 eggs. After hatching the male will also take care of the chicks.