Wood-quail

The Wood Quails are birds in the genus  Odontophorus of the  New World quail family, which are residents in forests in the Americas. The core range of the genus is centred 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 of 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 Quails are 22–30 cm long, dumpy, short-tailed, stout-billed partridge-like birds with a bushy crest. The upperparts are dark brown, and the underparts 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 underparts 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 the nest 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 will normally make good their escape on foot, but if startled will explode into a short fast flight into dense cover.

All woodq uail species have been adversely affected by hunting and, in particular, rampant deforestation. Several species with restricted ranges are now considered threatened.

Species list

 * Marbled Wood Quail, Odontophorus gujanensis
 * Spot-winged Wood Quail, Odontophorus capueira
 * Black-eared Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanotis
 * Rufous-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus erythrops
 * Black-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus atrifrons
 * Chestnut Wood Quail, Odontophorus hyperythrus
 * Dark-backed Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanonotus
 * Rufous-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus speciosus
 * Tacarcuna Wood Quail, Odontophorus dialeucos
 * Gorgeted Wood Quail, Odontophorus strophium
 * Venezuelan Wood Quail, Odontophorus columbianus
 * Black-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus
 * Stripe-faced Wood Quail, Odontophorus balliviani
 * Starred Wood Quail, Odontophorus stellatus
 * Spotted Wood Quail, Odontophorus guttatus