Black-eared wood quail
| Black-eared wood quail | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Odontophoridae |
| Genus: | Odontophorus |
| Species: | O. melanotis
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| Binomial name | |
| Odontophorus melanotis Salvin, 1865
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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
[edit]The black-eared wood quail (Odontophorus melanotis) is a gallinaceous bird found in Central America. Its 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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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[1] 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 near threatened on the IUCN Red List,[1][4] although more extensive studies and surveys are highly recommended and required for more accurate conservation conclusions.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c BirdLife International (2022). "Odontophorus melanotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22679640A137790951. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22679640A137790951.en. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d Johnsgard, Paul (1979). "The American Wood Quails Odontophorus". World Pheasant Association Journal. 4: 93–99.
- ^ 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). "Black-eared Wood-Quail (Odontophorus melanotis)". In Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.bewqua1.01. S2CID 226408511.
- ^ a b c Hale, Amanda Marie (2004). Behavioral ecology and conservation of a neotropical wood-quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus (Thesis). OCLC 61106014. ProQuest 305177586.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Carroll, John (1992). "Family Odontophoridae (New World Quails)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Cabot, José (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World: New world vultures to guineafowl. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-15-3.
- ^ a b Carroll, John P.; Kirwan, Guy M.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020). "Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus erythrops)". In Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rfwqua1.01. S2CID 240935109.
- ^ Monroe, Burt L.; Sibley, Charles G. (1997-02-27). A World Checklist of Birds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-07083-5.
External links
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