# Elegant Crested Tinamou (*Eudromia elegans*) The Elegant Crested Tinamou is a unique bird with a beautiful crest on its head. It loves to run and can be found in grassy areas, making it a special sight in nature. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Elegant Crested Tinamou](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stavenn_Eudromia_elegans_00.jpg&width=800) Photo: self, User:Stavenn, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stavenn_Eudromia_elegans_00.jpg) ## Appearance The Elegant Crested Tinamou has a sleek, greyish-brown body with fine black barring on its flanks and a distinctive, forward-curving crest on its head. Its plumage provides excellent camouflage against the dry, scrubby terrain of its habitat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Tinamiformes - **Family:** Tinamidae - **Genus:** Eudromia ## Interesting facts - Its eggs are so glossy and colorful, they look like polished gemstones! - The males are very busy dads, taking care of all the eggs and raising the young alone! - They communicate with a series of mournful, fluty whistles that echo across the landscape. - When startled, this bird prefers to run away at top speed before flying short distances. ## Special abilities - **Super Sprinter:** Elegant Crested Tinamou can run extremely fast because of its strong legs that help them escape predators quickly. - **Camouflage Master:** Elegant Crested Tinamou has cryptic plumage that helps them blend perfectly into their dry, grassy environment, making them hard to spot. - **Glistening Eggs:** Elegant Crested Tinamou lays eggs with an incredibly shiny, porcelain-like shell that helps protect them. - **Dedicated Dad:** Elegant Crested Tinamou males do all the egg incubation and chick rearing, which helps ensure the young survive. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 37.5-41 cm - **Wingspan:** 50-60 cm - **Weight:** 0.45-0.8 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 7-12 - **Incubation:** 20-21 days ## Diet & Feeding They forage for a mix of seeds, fruits, leaves, and small insects found on the ground. - **Primary Foods:** seeds, fruits, leaves, buds, beetles, ants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — A prey item for this large predatory cat. - **Eaten by:** Patagonian Fox (*Lycalopex griseus*) — Their eggs and young are vulnerable to this fox. - **Depends on:** Algarrobo tree (*Prosopis flexuosa*) — Feeds on seeds and finds shelter beneath its branches. - **Shelter:** [Creosote bush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creosote-bush) (*Larrea divaricata*) — Uses dense foliage for cover and nesting. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance so they feel safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Elegant Crested Tinamou? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Elegant Crested Tinamou? 37.5-41 cm ### What is Elegant Crested Tinamou's wingspan? 50-60 cm ### How much does Elegant Crested Tinamou weigh? 0.45-0.8 kg ### How long does Elegant Crested Tinamou live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Elegant Crested Tinamou move? 25 km/h ### What does Elegant Crested Tinamou eat? They forage for a mix of seeds, fruits, leaves, and small insects found on the ground. ### Where is Elegant Crested Tinamou usually found? Grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Elegant Crested Tinamou: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elegant-crested-tinamou)