About the Black-eared Wood Quail
The black-eared wood quail is a bird species in the order Galliformes. Until recently, the species was thought to be part of the family Phasianidae however DNA-DNA hybridization results determined that black-eared wood quail are only distantly related to Old World quail. As a result, black-eared wood quail have been placed in the family Odontophoridae and more specifically, in the category of wood quail.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The black-eared wood quail (Odontophorus melanotis) is a gallinaceous bird found in Central America. Its body is dark brown or black with a rufous breast. The most characteristic features of this bird are its unspotted chestnut crown and crest and its black face and throat. It has a black bill, blue-black legs and a purple bare ring around its eye. Females are close in appearance to males, but have a blue-black eye ring instead of purple, darker sides of the head and duller chestnut colors. Voice: Duetting is considered to be widespread within New World wood quail. Black-eared wood quail make soft, cooing or peeping conversational sounds among members of their covey. They also have an advertising call, which is a repetitive, ringing duet that can be sung by a lone bird and carries across long distances. The sound is described as "kooLAWlik kooLAWlik kooLAWK kooLAWK" or "LAWcooKLAWcoo".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Stripe-faced Wood QuailOdontophorus ballivianiThe stripe-faced wood quail is 26 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in) long.
Gorgeted Wood QuailOdontophorus strophiumThe rare gorgeted wood quail is a small ground-dwelling bird.
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