View source for Dark-backed wood quail

{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Dark-backed wood quail
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679663/92823350 |title=Dark-backed Wood-quail ''Odontophorus melanonotus'' |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year=2016 |access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref>
| image = Dark-backed wood quail (Odontophorus melanonotus).jpg
| image_caption=In Mindo, Ecuador
| genus = Odontophorus (bird)
| species = melanonotus
| authority = [[John Gould|Gould]], 1861
| synonyms =
| range_map = Odontophorus melanonotus map.svg
}}
The '''dark-backed wood quail''' ('''''Odontophorus melanonotus''''') is a [[bird]] species in the family [[Odontophoridae]], which is the New World quail. It is found in [[Colombia]] and [[Ecuador]].<ref name=IOC11.2>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.2) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=July 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2021 }}</ref>
==Taxonomy and systematics==
The dark-backed wood quail is one of 15 species in the [[genus]] ''[[Wood quail|Odontophorus]]''. Within the genus, it is part of the chestnut wood quail [[species complex]]. At various times it has been proposed or considered as [[conspecific]] with [[chestnut wood quail]] (''O. hyperythrus''), [[rufous-fronted wood quail]] (''O. erythrops''), and [[rufous-breasted wood quail]] (''O. speciosus'').<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last1=Madge|first1=Steve|title=Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse: Including buttonquails, sandgrouse, and allies|last2=Phil|first2=MacGowan|publisher=[[Christopher Helm]]|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4081-3565-5|location=London, United Kingdom|pages=401}}</ref><ref name=DBWQ-BOW>Carroll, J. P., G. M. Kirwan, and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Dark-backed Wood-Quail (''Odontophorus melanonotus''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.dbwqua1.01 retrieved September 12, 2021</ref>
The generic name ''Odontophorus'' is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''odontophoros'', meaning tooth-bearing. The [[specific epithet]] ''melanonotus'' is from the Greek ''melas'', meaning black, and ''notus'', meaning backed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jobling|first=James A.|title=Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names|publisher=[[Christopher Helm]]|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4081-3326-2|pages=247, 280}}</ref>
The species is [[monotypic]].<ref name=IOC11.2/>
==Description==
The dark-backed wood quail is {{convert|23|to|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. Both males and females weigh about {{convert|322|g|oz|abbr=on}}. Adults of both sexes are overall brownish black with fine chestnut [[vermiculation]]. The throat and breast are reddish chestnut. The juvenile is similarly colored but duller overall.<ref name=DBWQ-BOW/>
==Distribution and habitat==
The dark-backed wood quail is found in the Andes from southern Colombia's [[Nariño Department]] south to [[Cotopaxi Province]] in Ecuador. It inhabits primary and secondary [[tropical forest]] in the fairly narrow altitudinal band between {{convert|1100|and|2200|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Though primarily terrestrial, it roosts above ground in trees.<ref name=DBWQ-BOW/>
==Behavior==
===Feeding===
The dark-backed wood quail forages in groups of up to 10 birds seeking terrestrial invertebrates and fruit.<ref name=DBWQ-BOW/>
===Breeding===
Almost nothing is known about the dark-backed wood quail's breeding [[phenology]]. Observations of recently hatched chicks and dependent young in many different months indicate a long breeding season or possibly two of them.<ref name=DBWQ-BOW/>
===Vocalization===
{{birdsong|url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Odontophorus-melanonotus |species=dark-backed wood quail}}
The dark-backed wood quail's advertising song is a duet, "a fast rollicking 'koreewow-koreewow-koreewow...'" and calls include "soft whistles and mellow rolling notes."<ref name=DBWQ-BOW/>
==Status==
The [[IUCN]] has assessed the dark-backed wood quail as vulnerable. "This species has a small and fragmented range, with recent records from few sites. Available habitat, and presumably the population, is declining."<ref name=IUCN/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Odontophorus melanonotus}}
*[http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=330 BirdLife International Species Factsheet.]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q742535}}
[[Category:Odontophorus|dark-backed wood quail]]
[[Category:Birds of the Colombian Andes]]
[[Category:Birds of the Ecuadorian Andes]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1860|dark-backed wood quail]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]