Marbled Wood Quail

Overview

The marbled wood quail (Odontophorus gujanensis), also known as the Amazonian wood quail, is a species of New World quail with an extensive distribution across Central America and northern South America. It is a ground-dwelling bird that inhabits the undergrowth of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, where it is generally elusive and seldom seen.

Identification

• Length of 23 to 29 cm with a stout, dark-coloured bill and bluish-grey legs and feet.
• Front of the crown and cheeks are reddish-brown, while the dark brown, vermiculated crown feathers form a short, loose crest.
• MANTle and neck are greyish-brown, with a back and wings that are brown with black vermiculations.
• Underparts are drab brown with indistinct barring in buff and darker brown, accompanied by brown irises and orange or red bare skin around the eye.

Habitat

The bird is found in Central America and northern South America, extending from Costa Rica and Panama to Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, the Guianas and Brazil. It inhabits the undergrowth of lowland rainforests and cloud forests, occurring at elevations up to 1,500 m in Colombia and Venezuela.

Diet

The marbled wood quail forages through leaf litter in small groups, moving in single file to feed on invertebrates and fallen fruits. It often remains close to fallen trees or scrub to allow for an easy retreat when disturbed.

Did you know?

Although currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, the species is feared to be extinct in parts of its former range, specifically Costa Rica and Panama, due to habitat loss.