Forest tinamou

Tinaminae Temporal range: Miocene–present PreЄ Є Є O O S S D D C C P P T T J J K K Pg Pg N N Mid-Miocene to present
File:Crypturellus tataupa.JPG
Tataupa Tinamou (Crypturellus tataupa)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Superorder:	Palaeognathae
Order:	Tinamiformes
Family:	Tinamidae
Subfamily:	Tinaminae
Genera
Crypturellus Nothocercus Tinamus

Tinaminae, the forest tinamous, is a subfamily of the family Tinamidae. It contains three genera, which are:

• Crypturellus
• Nothocercus
• Tinamus

Description

These birds, like other tinamous, are ground birds that prefer to run and walk, but will fly when they must.

Taxonomy

The tinamous are related to the ratites (emus, ostriches, kiwis, and rheas), and are grouped with them in the superorder Paleognathae. All of these birds evolved from ancient birds that did fly; the tinamous are a primitive family closely related to these ancient birds.

Behavior

Tinamous eat leaves, buds, small fruits, and seeds, and will eat insects for variety.

Range and habitat

The members of this subfamily live in South and Central America. They prefer to live in forests, unlike the Nothurinae, which do not require forests and can live in drier climates.

References

• Brown, Joseph W. (2005). "Tinamiformes, Tinamidae, tinamous". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 16 Jul 2009. 
• Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003). "Tinamous Tinamidae)". In Hutchins, Michael; Jackson, Jerome A.; Bock, Walter J. et al.. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins. Joseph E. Trumpey, Chief Scientific Illustrator (2 ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 57–67. ISBN 0 7876 5784 0. 

Projects
This article is part of Project Bird Subfamilies, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird subfamily, including made-up families. This article is part of Project Bird Taxonomy, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every order, family and other taxonomic rank related to birds.