The tinamous (Tinamidae) are a family comprising 47 species of birds found in Central and South America. They are one of the most ancient living groups of bird and although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, the characters they share are the results of convergence rather than shared evolutionary innovations. Tinamids have no closer living relatives than the flightless ratites like cassowaries and emus.

Tinamous are rarely seen, but often heard within their range. They prefer to walk or run and will fly rarely in dangerous situations. Tinamous mainly eat small fruits and seeds off the ground or off of plants that are close to the ground.