Dendrortyx macroura
The Long-tailed Wood Partridge (*Dendrortyx macroura*) is a captivating New World Quail, distinguished by its remarkably elongated tail, a feature uncommon among its family members. Averaging 33-41 cm (13-16 inches) in length, with the tail contributing significantly, and weighing 350-500g (12-18 oz), it presents a striking appearance. Its plumage features a rich brown and rufous body, a grayish head with a prominent white supercilium, a black throat, and intricate blackish facial markings. T...
This species primarily inhabits montane evergreen forests, cloud forests, and pine-oak woodlands, often preferring humid ravines with dense undergrowth. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 900 to 3300 meters (3,000-10,800 feet).
Its diet is omnivorous, consisting mainly of seeds, fruits, berries, tender shoots, and leaves, supplemented with various insects and other invertebrates found in the leaf litter.
Long-tailed Wood Partridges are diurnal, spending their days foraging on the forest floor, but retreating to the safety of tree branches to roost at night, an unusual trait for a quail. They typically forage in small coveys of 3-10 individuals, meticulously sifting through leaf litter for food. T...
The Long-tailed Wood Partridge is endemic to the highlands of central and southern Mexico, primarily found within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and extending south into portions of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Its distribution stretches from central Jalisco and southern San Luis Potosà eastward th...
Least Concern
- The Long-tailed Wood Partridge possesses the longest tail among all New World quail species, often comprising half of its total body length. - Unlike most quails that are strictly ground dwellers, this species regularly roosts high in trees, an adaptation to its dense forest habitat. - Its scie...