Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge

Overview

The buffy-crowned wood partridge (Dendrortyx leucophrys) is a bird in the family Odontophoridae, native to Central America. It is found in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. The species is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though it is noted that deforestation poses a threat in certain parts of its range.

Identification

• Length of 28 to 35.5 cm, with males weighing an estimated 397 g and females 340 g.
• Forehead, supercilium, chin, and throat are white, contrasting with a chestnut crown, short crest, and nape.
• Back, wings, and tail are chestnut and gray, while the belly is blue-gray with chestnut streaks.
• A patch of bare red skin is present around the eye.

Habitat

The species inhabits humid to semi-humid montane forest types, including oak-pine, evergreen, and cloud forests. It also occupies secondary forest, partially logged areas, and coffee plantations. Its range spans three separate areas: from Chiapas in southern Mexico into western Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, northwestern Nicaragua, and far eastern Guatemala for the nominate subspecies, and central Costa Rica for D. l. hypospodius.

Diet

The bird forages by scratching through leaf litter. Its diet consists of seeds, buds, small fruits, and invertebrates, although specific dietary details are not well studied.

Did you know?

The holotype specimen of the species was collected in Cobán, Guatemala, in June 1843, passed through the collection of the 13th Earl of Derby, and is now housed in the World Museum of the National Museums Liverpool with accession number D1496.