Crested Bobwhite

Overview

The crested bobwhite (Colinus cristatus) is a species of bird in the family Odontophoridae. It is characterised by its long crest and mottled plumage, with the population assessed as being of 'least concern' by the IUCN.

Identification

• Size is approximately 178 to 216 mm long, with sexes appearing very similar though females are slightly browner.
• Fore-head and crown bear long, pale buff or white feathers, while the back and neck sides are marbled in black and white.
• The beak is black, legs are bluish-grey, and the eye is brown.
• The male's call is a distinctive, fast, husky three-syllable 'quoit bob-white' or a two-syllable 'oh, wheet'.

Habitat

Found in northern South America extending through Panama to Costa Rica, and also on Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.

Diet

The diet consists of buds, shoots, leaves and small invertebrates. The bird forages on the ground in or near thick cover, occurring in small groups.

Did you know?

The population seems to be on the increase despite the wide range it occupies. Its behaviour is rather similar to that of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).