The Andean tinamou (Nothoprocta pentlandii) is a tinamou, found commonly in high-altitude shrubland, in the Andes of South America.[1]
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.[2] pentlandii is the Latin form of Pentland which commemorates the Irish Traveller Joseph Barclay Pentland.
The Andean Tinamou has seven subspecies as follows:
The Andean tinamou is approximately 27cm (11inches) in length. Its upper parts are greyish-brown to olive brown and barred with black and white. Its breast is grey and spotted with white or buff, its belly is buff or whitish and its crown is black, the sides of its head and throat are mottled grey, and its legs are yellow.
The Andean tinamou can be found in the Andes from southern Ecuador to central Chile, as well as in the Sierras de Córdoba in Argentina.
It prefers subtropical and tropical shrubland at 800to(-) altitude.
The IUCN classifies the Andean tinamou as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 550000km2.[3]