Alternative English names: Crested
Bobwhite (subspecies of);
Alternative scientific names: Ortyx leucopogon; Ortyx
albifrons; Eupsychortyx leucopogon; Eupsychortyx hypoleucus;
Eupsychortyx leucofrenatus; Colinus cristatus (subspecies
of)
Spanish names: Codorniz-cotui Centroamericana (E); Codorniz
Vientrimanchada (CR, G); Codorniz Panza Manchada (H);
The taxonomy of the bobwhites is complex and authors differ
greatly in how the classify the different forms. Howell and
Webb classify the Spot-bellied Bobwhite as a distinct species
which is found from Eastern Guatemala to north-west Costa
Rica. Other authors consider the Spot-bellied Bobwhite to
be a subspecies of Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus,
which includes the forms in the south of Central America and
the north of South America. Other authors lump all of the
Bobwhites together, including Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
and Yucatan Bobwhite Colinus nigogularis. Dickey and van Rossem
give a range map for the two species found in El Salvador
(C. l. leucopogon and C. l. hypoleucus).
Quails are not the kind of bird you see unless you go looking
for them and this species is found in the type of farmland
habitat that I do not regularly go birding in. Consequently,
I have not seen this species at many locations. However, I
regularly visit the Rio Jiboa in El Salvador, where they are
very common. This is open farmland, the like of which is found
all along the Pacific Coast of northern Central America and
it is my assumption that they are equally common throughout.
All the areas where I have seen this species are dry farmland
areas where there are grass or low crops. At the Rio Jiboa
they occasionally wander into the edges of plowed fields though
tend to stay near to the edges. I quite often see them out
in fairly open dusty areas, such as along dirt roads, but
I have never seen them wandering across the tarmac road. I
have found the best way to see this species is to drive slowly
down the small dirt tracks between fields and too keep an
eye on the edge of the fields and the road ahead.
Howell and Webb comment that the Hu-wheet call is similar
to Northern Bobwhite. This is commonly heard at Rio Jiboa,
but I have generally found it hard to track down singing birds.
A recording of this species can be found on ‘Voices
of the New World Quails’ by Hardy and Raitt.
In Costa Rica Stiles and Skutch give the nesting as from
June to October and describe the nest as “a cup of grass
stems on ground under thick tussock”. They describe
around 10 eggs as being white, without gloss. On September
4th, Dickey and van Rossem shot a half-grown juvenile which
was accompanied by its parents. They comment that this bird
(are there were others of a similar size in the flock) was
probably from a second brood because most young had finished
their post-juvenile moults by this time. They observed that
birds were in pairs by the middle of April, but doubted whether
breeding occurred before the middle of May.
Dickey and van Rossem comment that the moult of this species
is similar to Northern Bobwhite, with the annual moult of
the adults and the postjuvenile moult being completed by mid
October, with the adult plumage attained after the post-juvenile
moult. They also comment that some adults and first year birds
did a limited spring moult that included some flight feathers.
Dickey and van Rossem comment on how there was always a lot
of sand or gravel in the stomachs of collected birds. They
also noticed the seeds of the “sacaton” bunch
grass and some small plant buds. Stiles and Skutch describe
them feeding on seeds, fallen fruits, and insects, but also
suggest that they can sometimes be a pest of bean and rice
crops.
Known locations
Guatemala
I have still not seen this species in Guatemala
Honduras
Celaque
Tempiscapa
El Salvador
Rio Jiboa
I have also seen or heard this species at a number of farmland
areas that are not recognised birding sites.
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