Although though some tinamou species have extensive distributions, many have extremely restricted distributions. Moreover, little is known of the ecology of most species. Subsequently, when compared to other orders of birds in Latin America a relatively large proportion of the species (23%) are included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list (see chart below) and one species, the Solitary Tinamou (Tinamus solitarius), is listed in Appendix I (endangered) by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
