There are 46 species of birds in this family. Tinamous are chicken-like birds and are found in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Tinamous are brown or grayish-brown and usually have spots or bars. They have a plump body with short, rounded wings and a small head. They are weak fliers and spend most of their time on the ground.

Tinamous have four toes on their feet, with three toes facing forward and one toe facing backward.

Tinamous forage on the ground for seeds, roots, berries, and insects.

Males mate with 3-4 females. The females lay their eggs in the same nest. The male incubates the eggs for 17-20 days and cares for the chicks for about a month.