The wood quails are birds in the genus Odontophorus of the New World quail family, which are residents in forests in the Americas.Johnsgard, "The American Wood Quails Odontophorus" World Pheasant Association Journal 4 (1979), pp. 93–99. The core range of the genus is centered in the lowlands and foothills of the northern Andes of Colombia and the mountain ranges of Central America; however, some species occur elsewhere in tropical and subtropical South America.
These are shy species, and as a consequence are amongst the most difficult galliform birds to study or even observe. The best chance of seeing wood quail is at dawn or dusk, when they may feed at the side of a road or on a forest track in family groups up to 12 birds. Nevertheless, when protected, they can become surprisingly tame, as has been shown at Paz de las Aves near Mindo, Ecuador, with the dark-backed wood quail.
Wood quail are 22–30 cm long, dumpy, short-tailed, stout-billed partridge-like birds with a bushy crest. The upper parts are dark brown, and the under parts are black, grey, brown, or rufous. Some species have a striking black and white throat or facial markings. The sexes are similar, but in some species, the female has a duller-coloured crest, and in others the under parts are more rufous or grey than in the male. The advertising calls are loud and distinctive duets consisting of repeated phrases, and are often the only indication that wood quail are present.
For most wood quail, information has mainly come from specimens, and breeding behaviour and habits are little known. The majority of species, including the relatively widespread spotted wood quail have never had their nests described.
Those species for which the feeding habits are known forage on the ground, scratching at the soil for seeds, fallen fruit, and insects. Wood quail are typically shy and wary; they normally make good their escape on foot, but if startled, explode into a short, fast flight into dense cover.
All wood quail species have been adversely affected by hunting and, in particular, rampant deforestation. Several species with restricted ranges are now considered threatened.
Taxonomy The genus Odontophorus was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot to accommodate a single species, the marbled wood quail, which is therefore the type species. The genus name Odontophorus is from Ancient Greek meaning "bearing teeth", from odous "tooth" and pherō "to carry". The genus now contains 15 species.
Species
Image Common name Name Distribution Marbled wood quail Odontophorus gujanensis Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela Spot-winged wood quail Odontophorus capueiraBrazil, Argentina and Paraguay, and formerly in Uruguay Black-eared wood quail Odontophorus melanotisHonduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama Rufous-fronted wood quail Odontophorus erythrops Colombia and Ecuador Black-fronted wood quail Odontophorus atrifronsColombia and Venezuela Chestnut wood quail Odontophorus hyperythrus Colombia. Dark-backed wood quail Odontophorus melanonotusColombia and Ecuador Rufous-breasted wood quail Odontophorus speciosusBolivia, Ecuador, and Peru Tacarcuna wood quail Odontophorus dialeucos Colombia and Panama. Gorgeted wood quail Odontophorus strophium Colombia Venezuelan wood quail Odontophorus columbianus Venezuela Black-breasted wood quail Odontophorus leucolaemusCosta Rica and Panama Stripe-faced wood quail Odontophorus balliviani southern Peru and Bolivia Starred wood quail Odontophorus stellatus Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru Spotted wood quail Odontophorus guttatusCentral America from southern Mexico to western Panama
References
Hilty, Birds of Venezuela, Madge and McGowan,Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica