Bird
Bird
Pileated Tinamou (Caille)
Crypturellus soui
The Pileated Tinamou, known locally as Caille, is a shy, ground-dwelling forest bird of Trinidad, far more often heard than seen, its clear, plaintive, whistled call a familiar sound of the forest floor at dawn and dusk, and a species traditionally hunted for food.
The Pileated Tinamou, known locally as Caille, is a shy, ground-dwelling forest bird of Trinidad, far more often heard than seen, its clear, plaintive, whistled call a familiar sound of the forest floor at dawn and dusk, and a species traditionally hunted for food.
Identification
A small, plump, ground-dwelling bird around 22 to 24 cm long, with reddish-brown upperparts, a greyish head, and a very short, often barely visible tail. The legs are relatively long and sturdy, adapted for running through dense forest undergrowth rather than for flight, which is brief, explosive, and usually a last resort when startled at very close range.
Ecology
The Pileated Tinamou forages on the forest floor for fallen fruit, seeds, and small invertebrates, walking quietly through leaf litter and undergrowth and relying on cryptic plumage and stillness to avoid detection. It is largely terrestrial, flying only reluctantly and briefly when flushed. Its clear, mournful, whistled call, often given at dawn and dusk, is one of the most distinctive and frequently heard sounds of Trinidad's forest interior, though the bird itself is rarely glimpsed.
Status in T&T
Common in forest interior and dense secondary growth across Trinidad. It is not globally threatened, but as a traditionally hunted game bird locally known as Caille, it is subject to a regulated hunting season under the Conservation of Wildlife Act, with closed seasons intended to protect breeding populations; hunting outside the legal season or by prohibited methods is an offence.
Threats
- Unregulated or out-of-season hunting
- Forest clearance reducing ground-level foraging habitat
