Crested Bobwhite

Colinus cristatus

Small quail of dry habitats in interior valleys as well as grasslands. Favors brushy fields, thorn scrub with grassy areas, and drier grassy plains. Often seen along quiet roadsides early and late in the day. Usually in small groups, which flush explosively with a loud whirring of wings. Some variation in plumage, but note strongly spotted underparts and contrasting pale or buffy throat. Frequently found by hearing its loud whistled bob-WHITE! call.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Colinus cristatus
Order
Galliformes
Family
Odontophoridae
Genus
Colinus

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Hispaniolan Oriole

Hispaniolan Oriole

Icterus dominicensis

A sleek forest bird that sometimes ventures into gardens and parks in search of flowers and fruit; prefers areas with palms. The adult is distinctive—clothed in black except for patches of yellow on lower belly, shoulders, and rump. No similar species occur within its range. Immatures are muddled yellow, orange, and olive, developing adult plumage over the course of a year. This plumage resembles that of female and young Baltimore Orioles, a scarce migrant and winter visitor to Hispaniola. Similarly attired Baltimore Orioles can be distinguished by their orange underparts and white wingbars. The song is a rapid jumble of squeaky and metallic notes. Calls include a buzzy “jrrrt” and a metallic “zhwee.”

Buff-throated Purpletuft

Buff-throated Purpletuft

Iodopleura pipra

A diminutive, dumpy, long winged, and shorted tail bird of the canopy in humid forests. Mostly dark gray above with a contrasting cinnamon throat. It has a pale band across the rump and a pale scaly belly. The small purple tuft patch on the wings is usually hard to see and is lacking in females.

White-cheeked Antbird

White-cheeked Antbird

Gymnopithys leucaspis

Distinctive antbird with pale blue eyering and snowy white underparts and rusty upperparts. Black eyebrow and cheek extends through neck sides and down flanks. Occurs in lowland rainforest east of the Andes; no range overlap with similar Bicolored Antbird. Most often seen in the vicinity of army ant swarms, perched on vertical branches or vines close to the ground. Several individuals may gather at a large ant swarm. Listen for harsh descending “churr” calls that might be a clue that there’s an ant swarm nearby.

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