Black-fronted Wood Quail

Overview

The black-fronted wood quail is a species of New World quail found in Colombia and Venezuela. It currently holds a Least Concern status on the IUCN Red List, having been reassessed in 2023.

Identification

• Size: 24 to 30 cm in length, with males weighing approximately 311 g and females 298 g.
• Plumage: Both sexes feature a distinctive black forehead, face, and throat; males of the nominate subspecies have a reddish brown crown, a gray back with black vermiculation, and small white spots on the closed wing.
• Subspecies variation: O. a. variegatus displays cinnamon tones on the wings and belly, while O. a. navai is drab dark brown without reddish hues.
• Song: The advertising call is a rhythmic, whistled series described as "bob-a-white", accompanied by rattling calls and gabbling among covey members.

Habitat

This species inhabits the floor of tropical and subtropical montane forests, typically at elevations between 1,200 and 3,100 m, though it may occur as low as 700 m in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Its range spans the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northeastern Colombia, the northern end of Colombia's eastern Andes, and the Serranía del Perijá straddling the Colombia-Venezuela border.

Diet

The bird forages in coveys of up to ten birds, scratching in leaf litter to find insects and berries.

Did you know?

The species was previously assessed as Vulnerable in 2000 due to a small, fragmented range and suspected population decline from habitat loss, but was reassessed to Least Concern as of 2023.