Patagonian Tinamou Tinamotis ingoufi

The southernmost representative of the genus Tinamotis, Patagonian Tinamou apparently is uncommon, and is rarely seen. It occurs principally at altitudes of 200–800 m, in savanna steppe, dry meadows and sheltered valleys with bushes, and the species seems to be most frequently encountered in areas where overgrazing has permitted the invasion of grassland by woody plants. Patagonian Tinamou is, as its name suggests, confined to southern Argentina and neighboring Chile. This tinamou usually is seen in small flocks, throughout the year, although in winter the flocks may number as many as 30–40 individuals. Patagonian Tinamou is distinguished from the more northerly Puna Tinamou (Tinamotis pentlandii) in being smaller, with some rufous in the primaries and black on the secondaries, but in any case there is no known overlap between them. In winter, some movement towards coastal areas has been reported, but more data are required. Patagonian Tinamou principally feeds on vegetable matter, and is reported to breed in November and December, apparently constructing a simple scrape on the ground.