Tinamous are small to medium-sized, plump birds with short, rounded wings, small heads, and short, strong legs. They have four toes on each foot, with three facing forward and one facing backward. Their plumage is usually brown or grayish-brown with spots or bars. Tinamous live in dense tropical forests, open scrublands, and forest edges in Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are rarely seen but are often heard making loud, melodious whistles.

NEXT FAMILY: Anatidae