Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because of its small range, low number of known locations and suspected declines in range and population owing to habitat loss and hunting.

Family/Sub-family Tinamidae

Species name author Conover, 1949

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 40-46 cm. Large, blackish tinamou. All blackish except sooty belly and rufescent, barred black undertail. Voice Mournful, tremulous, descending whistle lasting about one second.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

11,600 km²

No

Range & population Tinamus osgoodi has been found in four areas separated by over 2,000 km. Subspecies hershkovitzi occurs on the west slope of the East Andes, in Huila, Colombia, where its current status is unknown (last seen in 1976⁴). Two birds, apparently belonging to this species, perhaps a new subspecies, were observed in the northern Central Andes of Antioquia, Colombia, in 1999³. In 2000, a specimen was collected at San José de Fragua on the east slope of the East Andes⁸. The nominate form occurs on the east slope of the Andes in Cuzco, Puno and Madre de Dios, south-east Peru, where it has been described as common (at least until 1958), fairly common and uncommon at three known locations². A sizeable population may exist in Manu National Park, Madre de Dios and Cuzco. It has recently also been found in a fourth area, the isolated Cerros del Sira in Huanaco, central Peru, where at least five birds were seen and further individuals were heard during biological inventories in 2005-2006¹⁰. A bird was recently reported from Shishicho, just north of Puerto Libre, Ecuador, near the border with Colombia⁹.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: This is a poorly known species of premontane, humid forest, including "valley cloud-forest" (stunted, moss-enshrouded trees) in Madre de Dios¹, and may require primary forest^3,6. The northern subspecies is known from 1,400-2,100 m, whereas the nominate subspecies is generally found at 600-1,400 m. In Peru, breeding-condition specimens have been taken in March-November and a quarter-grown chick was collected in February. One specimen had its stomach and crop full of nuts.

Threats Most intermontane foothill forest in Colombia has been cleared for agriculture and human settlement, and the rate of habitat loss has increased recently with improvements to the road network in Huila⁶. Opium plantations are spreading, even within Cueva de los Guácharos National Park, Huila^6,7. In its Peruvian range, human settlement and agricultural development of forests occurs largely below c.900 m. However, oil exploration is taking place in the foothills of south-east Peru, and roads built to facilitate this are being settled⁵. It is hunted for food⁶ and is a favourite target for hunters in the Sira Mountains, some of whom enter the area exclusively to hunt the species¹⁰.

Conservation measures underway There are several records from in and around Manu National Park¹. Subspecies hershkovitzi has been recorded in Cueva de los Guácharos National Park, Huila⁴. Sira Mountains are included in Sira Communal Reserve but this does not provide effective protection against hunting¹⁰.

Conservation measures proposed Search for additional populations, especially in areas unknown to science^5,6. Investigate the taxonomy of the disjunct populations^3,6. Incorporate the Tavara-Candamo area into Bahuaja-Sonene National Park⁵. Control tourism in the foothills of south-east Peru⁵. Support conservation education programmes⁵, particularly to prevent hunting in the Cerro del Sira.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. P. Champlin in litt (1998). 2. Clements and Shany (2001). 3. A. Cuervo in litt. (1999). 4. Hilty and Brown (1986). 5. H. Lloyd in litt. (1999). 6. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999). 7. Wege and Long (1995). 8. Renjifo et al. (2002). 9. T. S. Schulenberg in litt. (2001). 10. Gastañaga et al. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors P. Champlin, A. Cuervo, Melvin Gastañaga (Asociación Armonía), Huw Lloyd (Manchester Metropolitan University), Ross MacLeod, Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves), Thomas Schulenberg (Field Museum of Natural History Chicago)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Tinamus osgoodi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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