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tinamou (TIN-uh-moo) - n., any of various secretive, ground-dwelling birds (family Tinamidae) of Central and South America.
About 50 species live primarily in grasslands and jungles. Despite looking like fowls (and flying about as well as them), they are actually more closely related to ratites, the flightless bird group that includes moas, ostriches, cassowaries, and kiwis. The name was taken (via French from the mainland Carib name for the birds. Here's an elegant crested tinamou (Eudromia elegans):
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
About 50 species live primarily in grasslands and jungles. Despite looking like fowls (and flying about as well as them), they are actually more closely related to ratites, the flightless bird group that includes moas, ostriches, cassowaries, and kiwis. The name was taken (via French from the mainland Carib name for the birds. Here's an elegant crested tinamou (Eudromia elegans):
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
