This eerie sound can be heard in the lowland jungle throughout much of Central and South America.

It's the voice of a great Tinamoo, secretive, and almost impossible to see.

Great Tinamoo's call early and late in the day,

and their voices carry a long distance.

47 species of Tinnamoos live in the American tropics.

They are chunky birds with strong legs and smallish heads.

Their bodies resemble those of a quail or partridge,

but they're not related.

Instead, Tinemu's closest known relatives are huge extinct flightless birds of New Zealand.

Their short wings can get them off the ground for brief flights, but mostly,

Titamoo spend all their time on the ground,

where they walk briskly, and can even sprint for a short distance.

Titamoos eat plants, insects, worms, snails, and small vertebrates like frogs.

Males build and defend nests, antand the young,

while females roam about and meet with several males.

Their eggs are like highly polished jewels,

ranging in color from brilliant red to yellow-green, purple, blue-green and black.

But it's that voice that sets it apart.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.