Black-eared wood quail

Black-eared wood quail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Odontophoridae
Genus: Odontophorus
Species:
O. melanotis
Binomial name
Odontophorus melanotis
Salvin, 1865

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to Black-eared wood quail on xeno-canto

The black-eared wood quail (Odontophorus melanotis) is a bird species in the order Galliformes.[2] Until recently, the species was thought to be part of the family Phasianidae (Old World quail) however DNA-DNA hybridization results determined that black-eared wood quail are only distantly related to Old World quail.[2] As a result, black-eared wood quail have been placed in the family Odontophoridae (New World quail)[2] and more specifically, in the category of wood quail (genus Odontophorus).[3]

There is limited information available on this species, but black-eared wood quail are considered to be forest-adapted,[2] monogamous,[4] relatively large pheasant-like birds that can be found in tropical and subtropical forests of Central America.[4] They feed on insects and fruit[4] and can be solo or in small groups.[5]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Odontophorus melanotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22679640A137790951. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22679640A137790951.en. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Eitniear, Jack (1999). Conservation of Quail in the Neotropics. Center for the Study of Tropical Birds, INC. pp. 9, 26, 77, 78. ISBN 0-615-11802-X.
  3. ^ Johnsgard, Paul (1979). "The American Wood Quails Odontophorus". World Pheasant Association Journal. 4: 93–99.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).