Dark-backed Wood Quail

Overview

The dark-backed wood quail (Odontophorus melanonotus) is a New World quail species found in the Andes of southern Colombia and Ecuador. It is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though hunting may be causing a slow population decline.

Identification

• Measures 23 to 28 cm in length with an average weight of approximately 322 g.
• Adults are overall brownish black with fine chestnut vermiculation and a reddish chestnut throat and breast.
• Juveniles share the same color pattern but appear duller overall.
• Advertising song is a duet described as a fast, rollicking 'koreewow-koreewow-koreewow...', accompanied by soft whistles and mellow rolling notes.

Habitat

Inhabits the Andes from Colombia's Nariño Department south to Ecuador's Cotopaxi Province. Occupies primary and secondary tropical forest, as well as tangled shrubby undergrowth and open-canopy forest, within an altitudinal band of 1,100 to 2,200 m.

Diet

Forages in groups of up to ten individuals, feeding on terrestrial invertebrates and fruit.

Did you know?

Despite being primarily terrestrial, the species roosts above ground in trees. Its breeding phenology is poorly understood, with observations of chicks in many different months suggesting either a single long breeding season or possibly two distinct ones.