Chilean tinamou
Scientific name: Nothoprocta perdicaria
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Small, cryptic game bird with mottled grey-brown plumage and rufous underparts. Males average slightly smaller than females; both sexes show barred flanks and a relatively long neck.
Size and weight
Males 23–26 cm, 150–180 g; females 24–28 cm, 160–210 g.
Habitat
Found in open scrublands, grasslands, and semi-arid shrubby terrain from sea level to 3,500 m elevation. Prefers areas with sparse woody cover and short vegetation where visibility remains moderate.
Distribution
Endemic to central and southern Chile, from Coquimbo to Magallanes regions. Occupies arid to semi-humid shrublands and transition zones between Andes foothills and coastal plains.
Diet
Primarily seeds, insects (especially beetles and grasshoppers), and small fruits; seasonal availability drives composition shifts between plant matter and invertebrates.
Behaviour
Solitary or paired; mostly crepuscular and early-morning active, moving quietly on foot through cover. Flushes low and fast when alarmed; rarely perches.
Hunting tips
Walk slowly through open scrub in early dawn or late afternoon, pausing to listen for scratching sounds or soft calls. Look for tracks in dust and scattered droppings near foraging areas. Approach from upwind into broken terrain; flush birds by methodically working dense patches of thornbush and low herb growth.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.