Tawny-faced Quail
Rhynchortyx cinctus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="rhynchortyx-cinctus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A small New World quail (~140 g) of family Odontophoridae, with tawny-orange facial coloring and cinnamón-barred flanks. Inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests from Honduras to Ecuador and Venezuela. Forages on the forest floor for seeds and small invertebrates. Near Threatened; shy and little-studied, dependent on intact forest but experiencing habitat loss throughout its Central and South American range.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 22.0 cm | 8.7 in |
| Weight | 139.66666666666666 g | 4.93 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Male has tawny-orange face and throat; grey breast with rufous flanks; brown back streaked black. Female has rufous-brown face, buff supercilium, and brown streaked upperparts; both have strong colour contrast.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident from Mexico south through Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela. Found in lowland and foothill forest.
Diet & Feeding
Forages on floor of Central American and Colombian rainforests for seeds and invertebrates. Scratches leaf litter in pairs.
Conservation Status
Sound
Song
Soft, plaintive two-note whistle 'pee-woo' uttered from dense undergrowth; rarely recorded and quiet. Alarm is a barely audible sharp 'pip'; flock contact maintained with muffled clucks.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Odontophoridae (New World Quail) |
| Genus | Rhynchortyx |
| Species | Rhynchortyx cinctus |
Distribution
Tawny-faced Quail has been recorded in 3 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Tawny-faced Quail eat?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Odontophoridae family