Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens)

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Image of a Red-winged Tinamou in its natural habitat
Birds Tinamou

Introduction

The Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird of the tinamou family, Tinamidae. It occurs mainly in open and lightly wooded habitats across central and eastern South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Although capable of strong flight, it usually relies on walking and camouflage, taking to the air mainly when startled. (sib.gob.ar)

Physical Description

The Red-winged Tinamou is approximately 40–46 centimetres long and has a compact, rounded body, short tail, small head and strong legs. Its upperparts are brown to sandy brown, heavily barred and mottled with black, while the underparts are paler and variably marked. The crown is dark, and the throat, neck and upper breast may show buff, cinnamon or greyish tones depending on geographic form.

The most diagnostic feature is the rich rufous or reddish colour of the flight feathers, which becomes especially conspicuous when the bird flushes. The plumage otherwise provides effective camouflage in dry grass, pasture and scrub. The sexes are broadly similar in appearance, although females are generally heavier than males in available measurements. Juveniles resemble adults but may appear softer and less sharply marked. (openlibrary.org)

Range and Habitat

The species is distributed across parts of central and eastern South America. Its range includes much of Argentina, eastern and southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, with records extending into south-eastern Peru. The exact distribution varies among recognised geographic forms, and the former Huayco Tinamou, Rhynchotus maculicollis, is now generally treated as a separate species.

Red-winged Tinamous favour open country, including native grasslands, pampas, savannas, agricultural margins and scrubby woodland. They are also recorded in areas of relatively open upland habitat and in grasslands with dense or tall cover. The species is not regarded as migratory, although local abundance and habitat use can vary with season, land management and food availability. (sib.gob.ar)

Behaviour and Diet

Red-winged Tinamous are primarily terrestrial and are usually encountered singly or in pairs. They walk with a deliberate but sometimes restless gait through grass and low vegetation, where their cryptic plumage makes them difficult to detect. When disturbed, they may run into cover before producing a rapid, noisy flight over a short distance.

The species is omnivorous. Its diet includes insects and other small invertebrates, as well as seeds, fruits, shoots, roots and tubers. The balance between animal and plant food may change seasonally, with invertebrate food becoming more important during warmer periods and plant material contributing more heavily at other times. Foraging generally takes place on the ground, where the bird searches among vegetation and leaf litter.

The vocalisations are far-carrying whistles, particularly associated with breeding activity. Tinamous have an unusual reproductive system in which the male incubates the eggs and cares for the young. Females may mate with more than one male and lay eggs in the nests of different males. The eggs are glossy and dark, and incubation lasts about three weeks. The chicks are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching and following the male. (openlibrary.org)

Identification Tips

Look for a relatively large, partridge-like tinamou with:

  • Rich rufous flight feathers that show clearly when the bird flies.
  • Brown, sandy or grey-brown plumage with strong dark barring and mottling.
  • A dark crown, compact body, short tail and sturdy legs.
  • A preference for walking through grassland rather than perching.
  • A rapid, noisy flush followed by a short, direct flight.

The Red-winged Tinamou is substantially larger and more strongly built than the Spotted Nothura (Nothura maculosa), another tinamou of southern South America. The reddish flight feathers are also a useful feature, although they may be difficult to see while the bird is on the ground. The Huayco Tinamou (Rhynchotus maculicollis) is the closest genuinely similar species in the same genus, but it is associated mainly with Andean and highland regions and differs in range, voice and plumage pattern.

Conservation Status

The Red-winged Tinamou is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This global category does not mean that all populations are secure. Local declines have been associated with hunting and the conversion or intensification of native grasslands, particularly where agricultural expansion removes dense natural cover. In some areas, however, the species can persist in suitable pasture and other modified open habitats. (collections.snm.ku.dk)

Important conservation measures include protecting remaining native grasslands, maintaining structurally diverse vegetation, managing grazing carefully and applying sustainable hunting regulations. Monitoring is also valuable because local population changes may occur even where the species remains widespread globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Red-winged Tinamou live?

It occurs in central and eastern South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with the wider range extending into south-eastern Peru. It is mainly associated with open grasslands, savannas, pasture and lightly wooded habitats.

Why is it called the Red-winged Tinamou?

The name refers to the rich reddish or rufous flight feathers. These are most noticeable when the bird is flushed and takes flight.

Can the Red-winged Tinamou fly?

Yes. It is capable of strong flight, but it normally spends most of its time on the ground. Flight is usually brief and is used to escape danger or cross an obstacle.

What does the Red-winged Tinamou eat?

Its diet includes insects and other small invertebrates, seeds, fruits, shoots, roots and tubers. The relative importance of these foods varies with season and local availability.

Which parent incubates the eggs?

The male incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks. This division of reproductive duties is characteristic of tinamous, and females may lay eggs in the nests of more than one male.

Is the Red-winged Tinamou endangered?

No. It is currently assessed as Least Concern globally, although hunting and the loss or intensification of native grassland can cause local declines.

References

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