Ocellated Quail
A species of Montezuma and Ocellated Quails Scientific name : Cyrtonyx ocellatus Genus : Montezuma and Ocellated Quails
Ocellated Quail, A species of Montezuma and Ocellated Quails
Botanical name: Cyrtonyx ocellatus
Genus: Montezuma and Ocellated Quails
Content
Description
Photo By Dubi Shapiro
Description
The ocellated quail (Cyrtonyx ocellatus) is a species of bird in the family Odontophoridae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is extremely similar to the Montezuma quail, and some authorities consider them to be conspecific.
Size
23 cm
Feeding Habits
Ocellated Quail's diet comprises seeds, fruits, buds, insects like butterflies and beetles, and tubers. They forage on the ground, showing a preference for bulbs of Cyperus esculentus and Oxalis. Unique to ocellated Quail is consuming Echeandia terniflora. Feeding activity peaks at dawn and dusk.
Habitat
Ocellated Quail typically resides in open oak and pine forests as well as shrublands across broader mountainous regions. It thrives at elevations ranging from 750 to 3050 meters, preferring areas rich in herbaceous vegetation, including oxalids (Oxalis), which are essential to its diet. Ocellated Quail is dependent on these specific habitats for foraging bulbs, tubers, and various herbs.
Dite type
Omnivorous
Photo By Dubi Shapiro