Cyrtonyx ocellatus
The Ocellated Quail (Cyrtonyx ocellatus) is a captivating, medium-sized gamebird, measuring approximately 20-23 cm (8-9 inches) in length and weighing around 230 grams (8 oz). Males are strikingly adorned with an iridescent blue-black crown, a bold white supercilium, and a black face patch contrasting with a crisp white malar stripe. Their most distinctive feature is a jet-black breast and belly meticulously patterned with prominent white, eye-like ocelli, giving the species its evocative nam...
This quail primarily inhabits humid montane evergreen and pine-oak forests, cloud forests, and brushy clearings, often preferring steep, moist slopes with dense undergrowth. It is found at elevations typically ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters (3,300-9,800 feet) above sea level.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, particularly beetle larvae and grubs, as well as a variety of seeds, tubers, roots, and some berries. They primarily forage on the ground, scratching through leaf litter and loose soil.
The Ocellated Quail is notoriously secretive and crepuscular, often most active during the early morning and late afternoon, though it forages throughout the day in dense cover. Outside the breeding season, they are typically found in small coveys of 4-8 individuals, relying heavily on camouflage...
The Ocellated Quail is a resident species, with no significant migratory movements, inhabiting a fragmented but relatively broad range across highland regions of Central America and southern Mexico. Its distribution extends from southern Mexico, specifically Oaxaca and Chiapas, south through Guat...
Least Concern
- The Ocellated Quail gets its name from the striking 'ocelli' or eye-like spots that adorn the male's black breast, making it one of the most uniquely patterned quails. - It is considered one of the most elusive and challenging quails to observe in its Central American range, often only detected...