Elegant Quail
Callipepla douglasii
Fairly common small game bird of open brushy woodland and overgrown weedy fields in tropical lowlands and foothills of northwest Mexico, sometimes near human settlement. Occurs in coveys for much of year, usually of 5–15 birds, which often feed along quiet roadsides early and late in the day. Flushes explosively with shrieks when disturbed. Both sexes have a short, upright fan-shaped crest and bold white spotting on the belly. No other quail in most of its range and habitat; endemic.
Identification
The elegant quail grows to a length of about 25 cm (10 in). The male has a distinctive long, straight, golden-buff crest (the female's crest is grey). In other ways the sexes are similar in appearance, being mainly grey with spotting and streaking in black, brown and white, and in the case of the male, in reddish-brown as well. The beak is black, the irises are brown and the legs dark grey to black. This bird can be distinguished from the otherwise similar scaled quail (C. squamata), California quail (C. californica), and Gambel's quail (C. gambelii) by the colour of the male's crest and by the paler spotting on the flanks.<p>Vocalisations include a "chip-chip" call used by members of a covey to help them remain in contact as they feed on the ground by day, and a "cu-cow" call given on assembly at the roosting site in the evening, and again in the morning before setting off to forage.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Callipepla douglasii
- Authority
- (Vigors, 1829)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Genus
- Callipepla
Range and habitat
Elegant quails are found only in Mexico, on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental at altitudes of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Their range extends from Sonora and southwestern Chihuahua to northern Jalisco and they are generally found in thorny scrub and deciduous forest, on open ground and cultivated fields. When disturbed they either freeze or run through the undergrowth, taking to the wing only with reluctance.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Woodford's Rail
Gallirallus woodfordi
A very dark short-tailed rail, often appearing entirely black. Dark brown on the wings and back, with black on the neck, head, and underparts. Bill yellowish or gray. Flightless. Occurs in damp lowland grassland and grassy thickets within forest. Sounds include a series of sharp yelping and squealing “kik-kik” noises.
White-necked Hawk
Buteogallus lacernulatus
Medium-sized pied hawk of dense Atlantic Forest. Note yellow bill base, white head and belly, and black back. Tail is white with a black sub-terminal band. Can be confused with Mantled Hawk which is larger and lacks the dark terminal tail band. Juveniles have dark streaks on the crown.
Humaita Antbird
Myrmelastes humaythae
Understory antbird of wet, forested habitats. Males are evenly gray; females are warm brown. Both sexes have tiny white wing spots and light gray eyes. Part of the species complex previously known as “Spot-winged Antbird;” it is similar to the previously conspecific Brownish-headed Antbird, which is separated by range and habitat. Humaita Antbird is found away from the foothills, in the Amazonian lowlands, while Brownish-headed is found in the understory of mature rainforest along the base of the Andes. In parts of its range, it is found nearly exclusively in palm swamps. Its song is a slowly-rising series of rapid high notes.
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