Elegant Quail

Callipepla douglasii

Fairly common small game bird of open brushy woodland and overgrown weedy fields in tropical lowlands and foothills of northwest Mexico, sometimes near human settlement. 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 shrieks when disturbed. Both sexes have a short, upright fan-shaped crest and bold white spotting on the belly. No other quail in most of its range and habitat; endemic.

识别特征

The elegant quail grows to a length of about 25 cm (10 in). The male has a distinctive long, straight, golden-buff crest (the female's crest is grey). In other ways the sexes are similar in appearance, being mainly grey with spotting and streaking in black, brown and white, and in the case of the male, in reddish-brown as well. The beak is black, the irises are brown and the legs dark grey to black. This bird can be distinguished from the otherwise similar scaled quail (C. squamata), California quail (C. californica), and Gambel's quail (C. gambelii) by the colour of the male's crest and by the paler spotting on the flanks.<p>Vocalisations include a "chip-chip" call used by members of a covey to help them remain in contact as they feed on the ground by day, and a "cu-cow" call given on assembly at the roosting site in the evening, and again in the morning before setting off to forage.

分类信息

学名
Callipepla douglasii
命名信息
(Vigors, 1829)
Galliformes
Odontophoridae
Callipepla

分布与栖息地

Elegant quails are found only in Mexico, on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental at altitudes of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Their range extends from Sonora and southwestern Chihuahua to northern Jalisco and they are generally found in thorny scrub and deciduous forest, on open ground and cultivated fields. When disturbed they either freeze or run through the undergrowth, taking to the wing only with reluctance.

迁徙
Resident species

保护状况

种群趋势
declining

照片

分布

鸟叫声

其他鸟类

Singing Bushlark

Singing Bushlark

Mirafra javanica

A small, stocky, pale brown bird with a fairly heavy bill. Unlike other bushlarks, breast streaking is minimal and often only restricted to the sides of the breast, while the wings are not as rust-colored. The pale eyebrow is well marked and typically extends neatly down around the cheeks. There is subtle though considerable geographic variation over the huge range. The overall coloration can vary from dark gray-brown to rich rufous-brown to pale sandy, and the amount and clarity of streaking on the breast also varies. Found in dry, open plains, agricultural areas, open shrubland, and grassland. The song is varied and complex, and includes whistles, trills, buzzes, metallic notes, and sometimes imitations of other bird species. The song can be given from a perch or on the wing. Forages on the ground, where it can be hard to detect until very close; gives a loud chip as it flushes. Similar to Indian Bushlark, but Singing Bushlark has a white outermost tail feather, appears drabber overall, and looks chunkier. Larger-billed but smaller overall than Eurasian and Oriental Skylarks, and averages more darkly streaked on the back.

Striped Wren-Babbler

Striped Wren-Babbler

Kenopia striata

Brown-and-white terrestrial babbler that scuttles around in the leaf litter like a rodent. Note lightly speckled black crown, white face and underparts, and rusty-orange stain on the forehead. Favors wetter forests, ranging from lowlands up into submontane areas. Gives short haunting whistles, either singly or in series.

Mussau Monarch

Mussau Monarch

Symposiachrus menckei

A striking pied monarch, mostly white with a black facial crescent, a black ear spot, and black wings spotted with white. Tail black with white outer corners. Prefers primary forest but tolerates scrubby regrowth and garden edges. Most common calls include a variety of scolding, harsh chattering notes.

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