The marbled wood quail, also known as the Amazonian wood quail, is a species of bird in the New World quail family. It has an extensive distribution in Central America and the northern part of South America. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Region
Central America and northern South America (including the Amazon Basin and the Guianas)
Typical Environment
This species inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, favoring tall, mature terra firme and well-developed secondary forests with dense understory. It keeps close to cover, using thickets, vine tangles, and buttressed roots for concealment. It occurs along forest edges, shaded streams, and palm-rich areas, and will enter selectively logged forest if sufficient ground cover remains. Human disturbance and fragmentation reduce its presence, and it typically avoids open habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The marbled wood quail, also called the Amazonian wood quail, is a shy ground-dwelling galliform that spends most of its time in dense leaf litter. It is often detected by its deep, resonant calls at dawn and dusk rather than by sight. Family groups (‘coveys’) move quietly along the forest floor, flushing only in short, explosive flights when startled.
Temperament
secretive and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; explosive flush over short distances
Social Behavior
Usually found in small coveys of 3–10 birds that move in tight formation through dense understory. Pairs likely form within coveys; nesting is on the ground in a simple leaf-lined scrape hidden by vegetation. Clutch size is moderate, and both parents may attend the brood. They rely heavily on stillness and cover, fleeing only when closely approached.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The vocalization is a deep, resonant series of booming notes and mellow whistles, often given at dawn and dusk. Calls carry far through the forest and are used to maintain contact within coveys. Alarm notes are sharper and more abrupt.
Plumage
Heavily mottled and scaled with marbled patterns across the breast and flanks, giving a cryptic, leaf-litter-like appearance. Upperparts are dark brown with black and rufous vermiculation; underparts show fine buff and black scaling. The throat is paler buff to whitish, contrasting with a darker face and crown. Feathers are dense and soft, aiding camouflage on the forest floor.
Diet
Feeds on fallen seeds, small fruits, tender shoots, and a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, termites, and small snails. It forages by scratching and flicking leaf litter to uncover prey. Seasonal fruiting events can shift the diet toward more plant matter, while invertebrates provide protein for chicks. Opportunistic feeding near army-ant swarms or fruiting trees occurs.
Preferred Environment
Primarily the shaded forest floor beneath dense understory, along trails, treefall gaps with cover, and near watercourses. It also uses edges of secondary growth if sufficient leaf litter and concealment are present.
