Tacarcuna Wood-Quail
Odontophorus dialeucos
This rare chickenlike bird has an exceptionally small range on the border between Panama and Colombia. Found on the ground in mature forest from around 1,000–1,400 m. Dark brown overall with a black head, a whitish face and eyebrow merging with a buffy nape, and a white band across upper chest. Lives in small groups, which can be difficult to see. Listen for the rollicking whistled song, typical of wood-quail.
Identification
The Tacarcuna wood quail is 22 to 28 cm (8.7 to 11.0 in) long. Males are estimated to weigh 264 g (9.3 oz) and females 258 g (9.1 oz). Males' crown and throat are black and the supercilium, lores, and chin are white. The sides and back of the neck are cinnamon. The back and rump are olive brown with black vermiculation and the breast and belly are chestnut speckled with white. Females are similar but their underparts are more tawny brown. Juveniles are similar to the female but the white of the chin is smaller and the black of the throat broader.
Taxonomy
Some authors have suggested that the Tarcarcuna wood quail and gorgeted wood quail (Odontophorus strophium), Venezuelan wood quail (O. columbianus), black-fronted wood quail (O. atrifons), and black-breasted wood quail (O. lecuolaemus) are actually a single species, but this treatment has not been accepted by the major avian taxonomic systems. The species is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Odontophorus dialeucos
- Authority
- Wetmore, 1963
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Genus
- Odontophorus
Range and habitat
The Tacarcuna wood quail is found along the Tacarcuna Ridge in Panama's Darién Province and Colombia's Chocó Department. It inhabits the floor of the subtropical forest at elevations between 1,050 and 1,450 m (3,440 and 4,760 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
No information about the Tacarcuna wood quail's foraging behavior or diet has been published.<p>A juvenile Tacarcuna wood quail was collected in early June but no other information about the species' breeding phenology has been published.<p>The Tacarcuna wood quail's vocalizations are poorly known.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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