Starred Wood-Quail
Odontophorus stellatus
Rotund brown bird of lowland rainforest understory. Reddish brown with small gray spots. Males have a dull red and gray facial pattern. Usually found in groups, but occasionally encountered singly or in pairs. Secretive and hard to see, but occasionally encountered foraging on the ground or flushing underfoot. Frequently heard after dusk and more rarely just before dawn, when pairs or groups sing in symphony, a series of continuous low caroling notes.
Identification
The starred wood quail is between about 24 and 28 cm (9.4 and 11.0 in) long, males being slightly larger than females. The bill is blackish, the irises brown and the legs grey, and the long feathers on the back of the head form a pronounced crest, reddish-brown in the male and brownish-black in the female. Other than this, the sexes are very similar in appearance; the front of the crown is dark brown and the rest of the head, neck, throat and mantle is grey. The general colour of the upper parts is olive-brown, marked with darker vermiculations, paler on the rump and darker on the wings and scapulars, with large black markings on the flight feathers and pale speckling on the wing coverts. The underparts are reddish-brown with white speckling on the sides of the breast and dark barring near the vent. The juvenile is similar but has an orange or reddish bill.
Taxonomy
Genus: Odontophorus; Family: Odontophoridae; Order: Galliformes.
- Scientific name
- Odontophorus stellatus
- Authority
- (Gould, 1843)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Genus
- Odontophorus
Range and habitat
The species is native to eastern Ecuador, much of Peru, western Brazil and northern Bolivia. It is typically found in moist lowland forests, including terre firme forests, flooding areas and transitional areas, below about 1,050 m (3,445 ft) (lower in Ecuador).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-ringed Flycatcher
Conopias albovittatus
One of several similar flycatchers that are medium-sized, upright, bright yellow below, with bold black-and-white head patterns. White-ringed has a noticeably long thin bill; it’s longer than Social Flycatcher's, for example, but thinner than Great Kiskadee's. The white eyebrow wraps around the back of the head (hence "White-ringed"). Also look for the very black cheek (not gray) and drab brown (not rufous) wings. Usually perches fairly high at the forest edge, often higher up than other similar species.
Red-legged Crake
Rallina fasciata
Small, brightly-colored crake of wet patches in dense forests; occasionally can be found in parks and edge areas with suitable habitat. Brown with an orange head and zebra-striped sides. Bright red patch of bare skin around the eye gives it a somewhat startled appearance. Candy-red (instead of dark) legs distinguish it from Slaty-legged Crake, and dainty, smaller-billed appearance distinguish it from Ruddy-breasted and Band-bellied Crakes. Generally shy and unobtrusive, moving quietly through wet vegetation. Tends to be difficult to see, but generally common and reliable in Singapore and some areas of Thailand.
Southern Penduline-Tit
Anthoscopus minutus
A tiny, short-tailed bird with a small fine bill, yellowish underparts, a green back, and a gray head with fine grizzled black-and-white scaly patterning on the forehead. Pairs and small groups forage restlessly for invertebrates and fruits, dangling upside down while they search. The species occurs in desert and semi-desert scrub, preferring taller thorn trees for nesting. It is often detected by its song, a repeated series of 5-7 high-pitched “chiueew” notes. Multiple birds may also give simple high-pitched tinkling and rasping notes. The similar African Penduline-Tit differs from Southern Penduline-Tit in areas of overlap by being smaller, lacking a grizzled forehead, and having buff (not yellowish) underparts.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.