Perdiz Selvática
Tawny-faced Quail
Rhynchortyx cinctus
Song
Tawny-faced Quail
Appearance: The Tawny-faced Quail is a small ground-dwelling bird. It has a tawny or brown face with intricate patterns of stripes and markings. The overall plumage is mottled brown and buff, providing effective camouflage in its preferred habitat.
Habitat: The Tawny-faced Quail is found in dense undergrowth, shrubby areas, and forest edges. This species may inhabit montane forests, humid woodlands, and areas with thick vegetation. It prefers habitats with adequate cover for protection and foraging opportunities.
Behavior: Tawny-faced Quails are terrestrial birds, spending most of their time on the ground. They are known to be secretive and elusive, relying on camouflage and staying hidden in dense vegetation to avoid predators. These quails forage for seeds, insects, and other small invertebrates in the leaf litter and underbrush.
Breeding: Breeding habits of the Tawny-faced Quail may include courtship displays, vocalizations, and nest-building activities. They construct nests on the ground in concealed locations, using vegetation and leaf litter to create a shallow depression for their eggs. Incubation of the eggs and care for the young are responsibilities shared between the male and female during the breeding season.
Conservation Status: The Tawny-faced Quail in Colombia may face threats related to habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting pressure.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
Andean Region: The Andean region is a key area where the Tawny-faced Quail is known to occur. Within the Andean region, this species can be found in various altitudinal zones, including montane forests, cloud forests, and areas with dense vegetation. The quails may inhabit both the eastern and western Andes slopes where proper habitats with adequate cover and food resources are available.
Central Andes: The Tawny-faced Quail may be present in certain areas characterized by suitable vegetation and environmental conditions. This region includes departments like Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda, and Tolima, where the quail's habitat preferences align with the local ecosystems.
Eastern Andes: This region includes areas in Santander, Boyacá, Norte de Santander, and Cundinamarca where the quails may find suitable habitats for foraging, breeding, and shelter.
The Western Andes region provides another habitat for the Tawny-faced Quail. Departments like Antioquia, Chocó, and Valle del Cauca with host populations in areas with appropriate vegetation structure and food availability.
Taxonomy
The Tawny-faced Quail (Rhynchortyx cinctus)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Galliformes
- Family: Odontophoridae
- Genus: Rhynchortyx
- Species: Rhynchortyx cinctus
Vocalization
Call: The Tawny-faced Quail's vocalization is a series of clear, whistled notes that are often described as melodious and distinctive. The call of the Tawny-faced Quail consists of a repeated series of whistles or whistled phrases that can vary in pitch, duration, and intensity. These calls are used by both males and females for communication within the flock, signaling presence, coordinating movements, and potentially attracting mates.
Whistle Patterns: The whistle patterns of the Tawny-faced Quail can be complex and may include ascending or descending notes, trills, or modulations. Males may produce more elaborate and prolonged whistle patterns during the breeding season as part of courtship displays or to establish their presence in the territory. The whistles of the Tawny-faced Quail can carry over distances in the dense vegetation of their habitat, allowing for effective communication among individuals.
Alarm Calls: In addition to their characteristic whistles, Tawny-faced Quails can emit sharp, short alarm calls in response to perceived threats or danger. Alarm calls are important for alerting other members of the group about potential predators or disturbances, helping the quails to coordinate defensive behaviors and take evasive action.
Dusk and Dawn choruses: Tawny-faced Quails may also participate in dusk and dawn choruses, where multiple individuals in the flock vocalize simultaneously as part of group communication and coordination. These choruses can create a cacophony of whistles and calls that can be heard throughout their habitat, signaling the beginning or end of the day and potentially reinforcing social bonds within the group.
