Wood-quail
Encyclopedia
The Wood Quails are bird
s in the genus Odontophorus of the New World quail
family, which are residents in forests in the Americas
. The core range of the genus is centred in the lowlands and foothills of the northern Andes
of Colombia
and the mountain ranges of Central America
; however, some species occur elsewhere in tropical and subtropical South America
.
These are shy species, and as a consequence are amongst the most difficult Galliform birds to study or even observe. The best chance of seeing wood-quail is at dawn or dusk, when they may feed at the side of a road or on a forest track in family groups of up to 12 birds. Nevertheless, when protected they can become surprisingly tame, as has been shown at Paz de las Aves near Mindo
, Ecuador
, with the Dark-backed Wood-quail
.
Wood Quails are 22–30 cm long, dumpy, short-tailed, stout-billed partridge-like
birds with a bushy crest. The upperparts are dark brown, and the underparts are black, grey, brown or rufous. Some species have a striking black and white throat or facial markings. The sexes are similar, but in some species the female has a duller-coloured crest, and in others the underparts are more rufous or grey than in the male. The advertising calls are loud and distinctive duets consisting of repeated phrases, and are often the only indication that wood-quail are present.
For most wood quail, information has mainly come from specimens, and breeding behaviour and habits are little known. The majority of species, including the relatively widespread Spotted Wood Quail have never had the nest described.
Those species for which the feeding habits are known forage on the ground, scratching at the soil for seeds, fallen fruit and insects. Wood quail are typically shy and wary; they will normally make good their escape on foot, but if startled will explode into a short fast flight into dense cover.
All woodq uail species have been adversely affected by hunting and, in particular, rampant deforestation
. Several species with restricted ranges are now considered threatened.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the genus Odontophorus of the New World quail
New World quail
The New World quails or Odontophorids are small birds only distantly related to the Old World Quails, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The American species are in their own family Odontophoridae, whereas Old World Quail are in the pheasant family Phasianidae...
family, which are residents in forests in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. The core range of the genus is centred in the lowlands and foothills of the northern Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and the mountain ranges of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
; however, some species occur elsewhere in tropical and subtropical South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
These are shy species, and as a consequence are amongst the most difficult Galliform birds to study or even observe. The best chance of seeing wood-quail is at dawn or dusk, when they may feed at the side of a road or on a forest track in family groups of up to 12 birds. Nevertheless, when protected they can become surprisingly tame, as has been shown at Paz de las Aves near Mindo
MINDO
MINDO, or Modified Intermediate Neglect of Differential Overlap is a semi-empirical method for the quantum calculation of molecular electronic structure in computational chemistry. It is based on the Intermediate Neglect of Differential Overlap method of John Pople. It was developed by the group...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, with the Dark-backed Wood-quail
Dark-backed Wood-quail
The Dark-backed Wood Quail is a species of bird in the Odontophoridae family. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
.
Wood Quails are 22–30 cm long, dumpy, short-tailed, stout-billed partridge-like
Partridge
Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East...
birds with a bushy crest. The upperparts are dark brown, and the underparts are black, grey, brown or rufous. Some species have a striking black and white throat or facial markings. The sexes are similar, but in some species the female has a duller-coloured crest, and in others the underparts are more rufous or grey than in the male. The advertising calls are loud and distinctive duets consisting of repeated phrases, and are often the only indication that wood-quail are present.
For most wood quail, information has mainly come from specimens, and breeding behaviour and habits are little known. The majority of species, including the relatively widespread Spotted Wood Quail have never had the nest described.
Those species for which the feeding habits are known forage on the ground, scratching at the soil for seeds, fallen fruit and insects. Wood quail are typically shy and wary; they will normally make good their escape on foot, but if startled will explode into a short fast flight into dense cover.
All woodq uail species have been adversely affected by hunting and, in particular, rampant deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. Several species with restricted ranges are now considered threatened.
Species list
- Marbled Wood Quail, Odontophorus gujanensis
- Spot-winged Wood Quail, Odontophorus capueira
- Black-eared Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanotis
- Rufous-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus erythrops
- Black-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus atrifrons
- Chestnut Wood Quail, Odontophorus hyperythrus
- Dark-backed Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanonotus
- Rufous-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus speciosus
- Tacarcuna Wood Quail, Odontophorus dialeucos
- Gorgeted Wood Quail, Odontophorus strophium
- Venezuelan Wood Quail, Odontophorus columbianus
- Black-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus
- Stripe-faced Wood QuailStripe-faced Wood QuailThe Stripe-faced Wood Quail, Odontophorus balliviani, is a species of New World Quail found in the Yungas of southern Peru and Bolivia. It is about 27 cm in length and weighs approximately 0.325 kg.The binomial of this bird commemorates José Ballivián....
, Odontophorus balliviani - Starred Wood Quail, Odontophorus stellatus
- Spotted Wood Quail, Odontophorus guttatus