Spotted wood quail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted wood quail |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Odontophorus (bird)
|
| Species: |
guttatus
|
 |
|
The spotted wood quail (scientific name: Odontophorus guttatus) is a small bird that lives on the ground. It belongs to the New World quail family. These quails live all year round in the mountains of Central America. You can find them from southern Mexico all the way to western Panama.
Contents
About the Spotted Wood Quail
Where the Spotted Wood Quail Lives
These quails like to live in high places, usually 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet) or more above sea level. They prefer dense, thick bushes or areas with lots of bamboo plants. Scientists still don't know much about their nests. However, we do know that their eggs are creamy-white with brown spots.
What the Spotted Wood Quail Looks Like
The spotted wood quail is about 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. It weighs around 300 grams (about 10.5 ounces). It has a bright orange crest on its head. This crest stands up when the bird gets excited.
Its upper body is dark brown with small black and reddish-brown spots. The lower part of its body is usually olive brown. Some quails have a reddish-brown color on their undersides instead. In both cases, their undersides have clear white spots. The quail's forehead is dark brown. Its cheeks and throat are black with white stripes.
Male and Female Quails
Male and female spotted wood quails look quite similar. However, males are usually a little bigger than females. The female's orange crest is also not as bright as the male's. Young quails have smaller, more yellowish-brown spots. Their throats are dusky (darkish) instead of black. There are no different types (subspecies) of this bird.
Their Calls and Sounds
Spotted wood quails often sing a duet, which means two birds sing together. Their advertising call is a clear whistle that sounds like coowit CAWwit coowit COO. When they want to stay in touch with each other, they make clear chirps and peeps.
How They Behave
Spotted wood quails usually live in small groups of 4 to 10 birds. They look for food on the ground. They scratch the soil to find seeds, fallen fruits, and insects. These birds are very shy and careful. If they sense danger, they usually try to run away on foot. But if they are suddenly scared, they will quickly fly a short distance into thick cover. The best time to spot these quails is at dawn. Sometimes, they might feed at the side of a road or on a forest track.
Protecting the Spotted Wood Quail
The spotted wood quail is common in some areas, like Costa Rica and Panama. However, in many other places, their homes are disappearing. This is because forests are being cut down very quickly. Protecting their habitat is important for these birds to survive.
