Black-eared wood quail

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Black-eared wood quail
Odontophorus melanotis 1902.jpg

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Odontophoridae
Genus: Odontophorus
Species:
O. melanotis
Binomial name
Odontophorus melanotis
Salvin, 1865
Odontophorus melanotis map.svg

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to Black-eared wood quail on xeno-canto

The black-eared wood quail (Odontophorus melanotis) is a bird species in the order Galliformes.[2] Until recently, the species was thought to be part of the family Phasianidae (Old World quail) however DNA-DNA hybridization results determined that black-eared wood quail are only distantly related to Old World quail.[2] As a result, black-eared wood quail have been placed in the family Odontophoridae (New World quail)[2] and more specifically, in the category of wood quail (genus Odontophorus).[3]

There is limited information available on this species, but black-eared wood quail are considered to be forest-adapted,[2] monogamous,[4] relatively large pheasant-like birds that can be found in tropical and subtropical forests of Central America.[4] They feed on insects and fruit[4] and can be solo or in small groups. [5]

Description[]

The black-eared wood quail (Odontophorus melanotis) is a gallinaceous bird found in Central America. It’s body is dark brown or black with a rufous breast.[6] The most characteristic features of this bird are its unspotted chestnut crown and crest and its black face and throat.[4] It has a black bill, blue-black legs and a purple bare ring around its eye.[6] Females are close in appearance to males, but have a blue-black eye ring instead of purple, darker sides of the head and duller chestnut colors.[6]

The black-eared wood quail is very similar in appearance to the Rufous-fronted wood quail (Odontophorus erythrops),[4] but the Rufous-fronted wood quail has a distinctive white jugular band that is absent in the black-eared wood quail.[6]

Taxonomy[]

Black-eared wood quails are part of the taxonomic group Odontophorus.[4] In the family Odontophoridae and subfamily Odontophorinae, Odontophorus is the largest genus with the greatest number of species and the largest collective geographic range.[3] The species comprising this genus are typically large, forest dwelling birds.[3][2] They are poorly observed, understudied and the least known group of all American gallinaceous birds.[3][2]

Black-eared wood quails have often been considered to be a race of Rufous-fronted wood quail[6] but there is no apparent evidence of intergradation.[7] The current and most accurate nomenclature for the black-eared wood quail is Odontophorus melanotis and for the Rufous-fronted wood quail; Odontophorus erythrops.[7][8]

There are two known subspecies of black-eared wood quail;

  • Odontophorus melanotis verecundus (Peters, 1929) . This subspecies’ range encompasses the Caribbean slope of Honduras.[4]
  • Odontophorus melanotis melanotis (Salvin, 1865). This subspecies has a distribution that includes South-East Honduras, Nicaragua as well as the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Panama.[4]

Habitat and distribution[]

Despite the insufficient amount of data available, most species of Odontophorus, including the black-eared wood quail, are considered to be forest-adapted[2] and typically found in tropical and lower subtropical forest habitats.[4] They are territorial,[2] ground dwelling and often found on the forest floor of virgin forests or in the vegetation of thick second growth.[4]

The black-eared wood quail persists across the Caribbean slope of central America; including Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica,[6] as well as eastern Panama and likely the northwest of Columbia.[4]

Behavior[]

The black-eared wood quail is presumed to be sedentary[4] and is not known to migrate. Individuals of this species can be found alone, in pairs or in small groups of up to 10 or 12 individuals[6] called coveys.[5]

Vocalizations[]

Duetting is considered to be widespread within New World wood quail.[5] Black-eared wood quail make soft, cooing or peeping conversational sounds among members of their covey.[4] They also have an advertising call, which is a repetitive, ringing duet that can be sung by a lone bird and carries across long distances.[4] The sound is described as ““kooLAWlik kooLAWlik kooLAWK kooLAWK” or ”LAWcooKLAWcoo”.[4]

Diet[]

Very little information is available on the specific diet and feeding strategies of black-eared wood quail. However, black-eared wood quail, like other New World wood quail, are surmised to scratch in leaf-litter for insects and fallen fruit.[4]

Reproduction[]

The breeding season for black-eared wood quail is suspected to begin during the dry season of Panama (December to mid-April) and the birds are most likely monogamous.[4] Nest have been found between trees, lined with leaves and grasses.[4] Eggs have been found in clutches of 4 and were cream or white colored with brown spots.[6] No additional information is available on the breeding and reproductive strategies of this species.

Conservation status and Threats[]

There is insufficient information available for many species of wood quail which has resulted in inaccurate conservation assessments based on unreliable data.[2] Deforestation is the major threat to the species as well as hunting.[4] The black-eared wood quail’s population is decreasing[9] and the total population is thought to be less than 50,000 birds.[4] Nonetheless, black-eared wood quail are not considered to be globally threatened and are of least concern on the IUCN Red List,[9][4] although more extensive studies and surveys are highly recommended and required for more accurate conservation conclusions.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Odontophorus melanotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22679640A92822428. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679640A92822428.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Eitniear, Jack (1999). Conservation of Quail in the Neotropics. Center for the Study of Tropical Birds, INC. pp. 9, 26, 77, 78. ISBN 0-615-11802-X.
  3. ^ a b c d Johnsgard, Paul (1979-01-01). "The American Wood Quails Odontophorus". Paul Johnsgard Collection.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Carroll, John P.; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020-03-04), Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.), "Black-eared Wood-Quail (Odontophorus melanotis)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.bewqua1.01, retrieved 2020-10-12
  5. ^ a b c "Behavioral ecology and conservation of a neotropical wood-quail, <i>Odontophorus leucolaemus</i> - ProQuest". search.proquest.com. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Carroll, John (1994-01-01). "Family Odontophoridae (New World Quails)". Papers in Natural Resources.
  7. ^ a b Carroll, John P.; Kirwan, Guy M.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020-03-04), Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.), "Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus erythrops)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.rfwqua1.01, retrieved 2020-10-12
  8. ^ Monroe, Burt L.; Sibley, Charles G. (1997-02-27). A World Checklist of Birds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-07083-5.
  9. ^ a b International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (2016-10-01). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Odontophorus melanotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-10-12.

External links[]

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