Spotted Wood Quail

The Spotted Wood Quail, scientifically known as Odontophorus guttatus, is a diminutive ground-dwelling bird that belongs to the New World quail family. This avian species is easily recognized by its orange crest, which becomes particularly prominent when the bird is in a state of excitement. The bird's plumage is a dark brown, adorned with black and rufous flecking on the upperparts, while the underparts are typically olive brown. A notable variant exists with rufous underparts, but in both morphs, the underparts are boldly spotted with white. The forehead is dark brown, and the cheeks and throat exhibit a striking pattern of black streaked with white.

Identification Tips

To identify the Spotted Wood Quail, look for the characteristic orange crest and the white spotting on the underparts. The male is slightly larger on average and has a more vibrant crest, while the female's crest is somewhat duller. Juveniles can be distinguished by their smaller, buff-tinted spotting and a dusky throat rather than black.

Habitat

This species thrives in the highlands, from elevations of 1000 meters up to the timberline. It prefers dense understory thickets or bamboo groves, which provide ample cover and foraging opportunities.

Distribution

The Spotted Wood Quail is a resident breeder found in the mountainous regions of Central America, with its range extending from southern Mexico to western Panama.

Behaviour

These quails are social birds, typically encountered in groups ranging from 4 to 10 individuals. They are predominantly ground foragers, scratching at the soil in search of seeds, fallen fruit, and insects. Known for their shy and wary disposition, they prefer to escape on foot, but will take to a swift, short flight if startled. Observers are most likely to glimpse these birds at dawn, when they may venture onto roadsides or forest tracks to feed.

Song & Calls

The Spotted Wood Quail communicates with an advertising call that is a duet, consisting of a clear whistled "coowit CAWwit coowit COO." For contact, they emit clear chirps and peeps, which can be heard within their habitat.

Breeding

While the nesting behavior of the Spotted Wood Quail remains largely undescribed, it is known that their eggs are creamy-white with brown spots, hinting at ground-level nesting habits.

Similar Species

There are no subspecies of the Spotted Wood Quail, and its distinctive appearance and calls make it relatively easy to distinguish from other species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Spotted Wood Quail consists of seeds, fallen fruit, and insects, which they forage for by scratching at the ground.

Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Spotted Wood Quail as Least Concern. However, it is important to note that the species has suffered due to deforestation in much of its range, particularly outside of protected areas such as in Costa Rica and Panama where it remains locally common.