Banded Quail
Philortyx fasciatus
Very small quail of open brushy woodland and weedy fields in dry regions; endemic to interior southwest Mexico. No other quail in most of its range and habitat. 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 shrieking chatter when disturbed. Sexes look alike, with dark crest spike and boldly barred belly.
Identification
The banded quail is an inconspicuous brown bird with a comparatively long tail. It has a dark crest on its head, its throat is pale and its under tail-coverts are barred in black and white. The juvenile plumage is streaked with white at first but after a moult at eight to twelve weeks the plumage is similar to that of the adults apart from a nearly black face and throat. The full adult plumage develops at sixteen to twenty weeks.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Philortyx fasciatus
- Authority
- (Gould, 1844)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Genus
- Philortyx
Range and habitat
The banded quail is endemic to western central Mexico where its main habitat is dry scrubby countryside with shrubs but it also sometimes moves onto cultivated land and pasture. It is commonest in the region bordering on the Balsas River. Its elevational range is from sea level up to about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) and it is a non-migratory species.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The banded quail is a ground-dwelling bird usually found in groups of about a dozen birds although sometimes larger groups of up to thirty are seen. It is a shy bird that seldom strays far from cover. When alarmed, it tends to run rather than fly, but when a group take to the wing, the individuals fly off in different directions which may confuse a potential predator. It feeds on a variety of seeds and on tubers, buds and insects, increasing the proportion of animal food when there are chicks to be fed. Breeding takes place between August and September and the crest is used during display behaviour. About five eggs are laid in a grass-lined nest that may be partially roofed and the incubation period is about twenty two days.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Great-billed Hermit
Phaethornis malaris
Large hermit with an extremely long curved bill. Note the dark cheek bordered by pale eyebrow and mustache, and the elongated white central tail feathers. Fairly dull overall, with bronzy back and buffy or grayish belly. Occurs in lowlands across much of northern South America, typically below 1,000 m. Fairly common within terra firme forest where it stays low, quickly zipping around flower patches in the understory.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocoptes medius
Medium-large black-and-white woodpecker. Marginally smaller than Great Spotted Woodpecker, but rounded head and shortish beak exaggerate this size difference. Both sexes are similar, with a red crown (brighter in the male) and an incomplete cheek bar. It has a rattle call: "kíg-gag-gag-gag-gag" and gives a nasal long-drawn series of “gwaaag” calls. Rarely drums. Closely tied to old deciduous forests, often in areas with an abundance of oak or beech.
Slender-billed Prion
Pachyptila belcheri
A medium-sized prion. The dark “M” across the back is found in all the prion species, but is noticeably less pronounced on the Slender-billed Prion. Slender-billed Prion has a very pale face, prominent white eyebrow, and very narrow black tip to the upper tail. As suggested by its name, the Slender-billed Prion has the thinnest and least robust bill of the prion species. Breeds on islands in the southern Indian Ocean, the Falklands, and around subantarctic South America while ranging throughout southern oceans during the nonbreeding season. Very difficult to distinguish from other prion species at sea, but distinguishable with careful observation of all described features.
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