[3] All tinamous are from the family Tinamidae; in the larger scheme, they are also ratites (i.e., birds without a keel on their sternum bone), together with the South American rhea (Rhea), the cassowary (Casuarius), emu (Dromaius), ostrich (Struthio) and the kiwis (order Apterygiformes) as close, if not distant, relatives.

However, unlike these terrestrial ratites, tinamou can still fly, albeit not for any sustained period or very effectively.

[4] Additionally, the tinamou are closely aligned with the extinct giant moa (Dinornis) of New Zealand.

This species is native to all of Chile except southern Los Lagos, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Aisén, and Magallanes y Antarctica Chilena.

It has a buffy face with a dark eyeline that is drooping and a small strip on its cheek, with a lighter colored crown.

The IUCN classifies the Chilean tinamou as Least Concern,[1] with an occurrence range of 120,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi).