Little Tinamou
Crypturellus soui
About This Species
A small, ground-dwelling tinamou of humid lowland forest from Mexico to South America, far more often heard than seen as it moves quietly through leaf litter and dense undergrowth. Listen for its mournful, whistled call given at dawn and dusk from deep forest cover, and watch quiet forest trails and clearings where it may cross in the open. Early morning in undisturbed forest interior gives the best chance of a fleeting view.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Extremely shy and quick to freeze or flush at the slightest disturbance, so a slow, silent approach along trails offers the only realistic chance of a sighting.
- It is a traditional subsistence quarry species in parts of its range, so hunting regulations vary by country and should be checked locally.
- Avoid playback or attempts to flush it from cover, as this causes unnecessary stress to a species that already relies on staying hidden.
LCAvesTinamiformesTinamidae
Seasonal Activity
157,975 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Tinamiformes
- Family
- Tinamidae
Photo
(c) Santi MD, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Santi MD
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.