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
Golden-green Woodpecker
Piculus chrysochloros
This medium-sized woodpecker has a large range from Panama to southeast Brazil. Both sexes are olive-green above and barred below with an obvious yellow stripe on the face. Males also have a red crown. There are several subspecies that differ primarily in facial pattern and color of the underparts; some males have a red mustache stripe and brighter yellow underparts. Singles or pairs are found in lowland forests from middle levels to the canopy, sometimes following mixed-species flocks.
Rote Myzomela
Myzomela irianawidodoae
A small honeyeater with a downcurved bill. Males blackish with a vivid red hood and rump and a paler belly. Females are brown with a paler belly and a noticeable red wash to the throat, forehead, and cheeks. Found singly or in pairs in lowland woodland, forest edge, and gardens, favoring the upper parts of trees. Unmistakable, as there are no other myzomelas in its limited range on Rote island. Vocalizations include a fast-paced sequence of staccato, metallic notes: “zip-zip-zip-zip-zip-zip…”.
Ashy Wood-Pigeon
Columba pulchricollis
Generally uncommon barrel-chested forest pigeon with dark gray upperparts and pale underparts. Checkerboard-style neck collar comprised of stiff black feathers with creamy-buff tips is unique. Usually encountered hurtling by over evergreen broadleaf hill forests; appears all dark from above, pale with contrastingly dark underwings and dark chest from below. Forages quietly in the canopy, often seen in medium-sized to large flocks; occasionally observed taking grit on the ground. Speckled Wood-Pigeon is also dark above but is maroon brown with light spotting.
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