The Elegant Crested Tinamou has a long backward-swept crest and dark streaks on gray plumage. It searches the ground for seeds, fruit, and small animals.
It has a small head, slender neck, short wings, and a long backward-curving crest. Its gray plumage has dark streaks; females can be somewhat brighter.
Elegant Crested Tinamous walk through Argentine and Chilean grasslands and scrub, taking seeds, fruit, leaves and insects. They can fly short distances.
Toronto Zoo describes more insect feeding in summer and more plant feeding in winter. Groups may range farther when winter food is scarce.
Females may initiate courtship and lay glossy green eggs. Males incubate and rear chicks in ground nests sheltered under vegetation.
IUCN Red List (conservation institution account) · Least Concern · Global
Hunting and habitat destruction have caused regional declines. Argentine protected-area records document its occurrence; retaining grassland and scrub supports feeding and nesting.