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NEW WORLD QUAIL (ODONTOPHORIDAE; 8 SPECIES) Handsome

‘chickens’ of scrubby and forested habitats, often in groups in nonbr. season; can be very

elusive, but confiding when acclimated. Ages differ; adult appearance attained within a month

or so by near-complete molt. Sexes differ or similar. Often detected by voice. Flush explosively

from close range.

SPOT-BELLIED BOBWHITE  Colinus [cristatus] leucopogon 20–23cm. Small

quail of open brushy country, grassy fields, farmland, savanna, open woodland;

along quiet roadsides early and late in day. In pairs or groups, tending to run for

cover or flush when disturbed. Distinctive in range and habitat (no overlap with

Crested Bobwhite): note head pattern, white-spotted belly. SOUNDS: ‘Song’

(mainly spring–summer) a slightly hoarse to ringing whistled h-hoo-whuiih! or

less often simply hu-whiih! (‘bob-white!’), typically every 10–20 secs. Ringing,

hollow whistled clucks year-round, at times in rhythmic series, hú-widi hú-

widi...; varied nasal clucks and twitters. Rattling wing whirr when flushed.

STATUS: Fairly common on n. Pacific slope, locally to 1500m and likely spreading with deforestation.

(Guatemala to Costa Rica.)

CRESTED BOBWHITE  Colinus cristatus 19–22cm. Very poorly known in

Costa Rica. Small quail of open brushy country, rice and cane fields, savanna.

Habits much like Spot-bellied Bobwhite, should be distinctive in range and

habitat (no known overlap with Spot-bellied): note striking head pattern,

erectile spiky crest. SOUNDS: Similar to Spot-bellied Bobwhite but song averages

clearer, less harsh and emphatic, with less strongly upslurred last note. Rattling

wing whirr when flushed. STATUS: Uncertain. Described by Stiles & Skutch

(1989) as “locally common … in Golfo Dulce lowlands” and expected to spread

with deforestation; very few reports in recent years, however, and inexplicably

seems at best scarce and local in Costa Rica. (Costa Rica to S America.)

TAWNY-FACED QUAIL  Rhynchortyx cinctus 18–20cm. Elusive small quail of

humid forest in lowlands and lower foothills. Pairs or small coveys run when

alarmed or may freeze; flushes explosively from underfoot. Appreciably smaller

than wood quail; note distinctive head and breast patterns. SOUNDS: Ventriloquial,

slightly nasal sad whistles, 0.5–1 sec, often 3 longer descending notes followed

by 1–3 shorter rising notes, wowhh wowhh wowhh owhh owhh, series repeated

every 2–3 secs; at other times steady series of simply longer or shorter notes

every 0.5–2 secs. STATUS: Scarce to uncommon and local in hilly n. Caribbean

lowlands, mainly 150–800m. (Honduras to nw. Ecuador.)

BUFFY-CROWNED WOOD PARTRIDGE  Dendrortyx leucophrys 28–35cm.

Long-tailed quail of humid foothill and highland forest, shade coffee

plantations, especially in brushy ravines. Typically shy and elusive, heard far

more than seen. Often walks and runs with tail cocked and slightly fanned, like

a chicken. In pairs or small groups, scratching in leaf litter; runs well and rarely

flies. Distinctive if seen: note long tail, whitish forecrown and throat, deep pink

legs. Sexes similar. SOUNDS: Rhythmic duets of repeated 2–4-syllable whistled

phrases with slightly hoarse, braying quality, such as i’hohr…or whíta-horr’a...;

about 1 phrase/sec; short nasal hoot, repeated, or at start of song series. Semi-

metallic high twitters when agitated. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common locally on wetter slopes

surrounding Central Valley and in n. Talamanca Mts., mainly 900–3000m. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)