Crested bobwhite

The crested bobwhite is a species of bird in the family Odontophoridae. It is found in northern South America, extending through Panama to just reach Costa Rica. It also occurs on Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.

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Distribution

Region

Northern South America and southern Central America

Typical Environment

Found in northern South America including Colombia and Venezuela, extending through Panama to just reach Costa Rica, and present on Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. It occupies subtropical and tropical dry shrublands, thorn-scrub, and seasonally wet or flooded lowland grasslands. The species readily uses mosaic agricultural landscapes, pastures, and weedy field margins. It favors areas with patchy ground cover for foraging and nearby denser cover for concealment. On islands, it occurs from coastal flats to low hills where scrub and grassland predominate.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size20–23 cm

Wing Span32–36 cm

Male Weight0.18 kg

Female Weight0.16 kg

Life Expectancy3 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

Named for its small erectile crest, the crested bobwhite is a ground-dwelling quail that prefers dry scrub and grassland. It commonly forms tight coveys outside the breeding season and explodes into short, whirring flights when flushed. The species is adapted to human-altered landscapes and can be found along field edges and pastures. It occurs from northern South America into Panama and marginally Costa Rica, and also on several Caribbean islands such as Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.

Gallery

Painting

Behaviour

Temperament

wary but social

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with explosive flush

Social Behavior

Outside breeding season they form small coveys that keep close contact with soft calls and move cohesively while foraging. Breeding pairs are typically monogamous and nest on the ground in shallow, grass-lined scrapes hidden under cover. Clutches are relatively large for their size, and both adults may guard nearby while chicks feed. Roosting often occurs on the ground in sheltered spots.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

The male gives clear, whistled notes reminiscent of other bobwhites, often a two- to three-note call that carries at dawn and dusk. Contact calls within coveys are soft, clucking or peeping notes. Alarm calls are sharp and repeated when flushed.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Crested bunting

The crested bunting is a species of bird in the family Emberizidae. It is sparrow sized with males having rufous wings and tail on a black body and females being less contrastingly coloured in dull brown. Both males and females have the distinctive crest. The species was formerly placed in an monotypic genus Melophus on account of its crest, unique among the buntings. The species has a wide but scattered distribution in Asia. They are found in mostly open and dry habitats over a range of altitudes. Populations in the higher elevations of the Himalayas show seasonal altitudinal movements. They are more gregarious in winter.

Crested caracara

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Crested coua

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Crested cuckoo-dove

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Crested drongo

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