How are tinamous connected to the extinct moa of New Zealand?

Genetic studies have revealed a close evolutionary relationship between the extinct moa of New Zealand and the tinamous of South America. While it was once commonly thought that moa were most closely related to kiwis, these genetic findings suggest that the common ancestors of both moa and tinamous may have evolved in South America.1

Despite their differences—the moa being a large, flightless ratite and the tinamou being a smaller, ground-dwelling bird with limited flight capability—they share significant biological similarities. Both groups exhibit features characteristic of ratites, such as specific feather types and structures of the bony palate. These connections have led some researchers to conclude that the two groups are closely linked, providing important insights into the evolutionary history of these distinct avian lineages.12