Temporal range: Miocene - Recent 10–0Ma |Elegant Crested Tinamou
(Eudromia elegans)| G.R. Gray, 1840 |2 subfamilies, 9 genera, 47
species, 127 subspecies| Tinamous form an order (Tinamiformes)
comprising a single family of 47 species of birds found in
Central and South America. The word "tinamou" comes from the
Galibi term for these birds, tinamu. One of the most ancient
living groups of bird, they are most closely related to the
flightless ratites. They are generally sedentary, ground
dwelling and, though not flightless, when possible avoid flight
in favour of hiding or walking away from danger. They are found
in a variety of habitats, ranging from alpine grasslands to
tropical rainforests. The two subfamilies are broadly divided by
habitat, with the Nothurinae referred to as steppe or open
country tinamous, and the Tinaminae known as forest tinamous.
Although some species are quite common, tinamous are generally
shy and secretive birds. They are active during the day,
retiring to roosts at night. They gener