Banded Quail

The banded quail, a modestly adorned bird, is cloaked in shades of brown with a relatively elongated tail. A distinctive dark crest adorns its head, while its throat is of a lighter hue. The under tail-coverts exhibit a striking pattern of black and white bars.

Identification Tips

Upon first glance, the juvenile banded quail is marked by white streaks, but as it matures through a moult at eight to twelve weeks, it adopts an adult-like plumage, save for a nearly black face and throat. The full adult plumage emerges at sixteen to twenty weeks, presenting a more uniform appearance.

Habitat

This species thrives in the dry, scrubby landscapes of Mexico, favoring subtropical or tropical dry forests, shrublands, and high-altitude shrublands. It is also known to inhabit heavily degraded former forests.

Distribution

The banded quail is an endemic resident of western central Mexico, commonly found near the Balsas River. Its range extends from sea level to elevations of approximately 1,800 meters, and it does not migrate.

Behaviour

Typically encountered in groups of around a dozen, the banded quail can form larger assemblies of up to thirty. It is a ground-dwelling and elusive bird, preferring to remain within the safety of cover. When startled, it opts to run rather than take flight, but if it does fly, the group scatters in various directions, potentially disorienting predators.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the banded quail is diverse, consisting of seeds, tubers, buds, and insects. When rearing chicks, the proportion of animal food in their diet increases.

Breeding

Breeding season occurs between August and September. During courtship displays, the quail's crest plays a significant role. The species nests in a grass-lined structure that may be partially covered, laying about five eggs. Incubation lasts around twenty-two days.

Conservation status

With an estimated population of 50,000 to 500,000 individuals across a 90,800 square kilometer range, the banded quail is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. Despite being hunted for food, the population appears stable with no significant threats identified.