• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small population that is considered to be declining due to hunting, logging and habitat loss. If recent records in Cundinamarca are confirmed, the species may be downlisted in the future.

Population justification
Renjifo et al. (2014) estimate the population to be 5,900, of which 2,500 could be mature individuals. The population is here placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The species is inferred to be declining as a result of habitat loss, hunting and predation by dogs (Renjifo et al. 2014).

Odontophorus strophium occurs on the west slope of the east Andes of Colombia. There are historic (pre-1954) records from Cundinamarca (Wege and Long 1995), where it was known from a few sites to the west of and around Bogotá. It has since been recorded in Santander on the Cuchilla del Ramo in 1970, in Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce Flora and Fauna Sanctuary from 1979 onwards, in Cachalu Biological Reserve from 1999, and in the Serranía de los Yariguíes in 2003 (P. Salaman in litt. 2004, Donegan et al. 2005). In 2004, it was found in the oak forests of Charalá, at Vereda Virolín; Onzaga, at Vereda Chaguata; Mogotes, at Vereda San Jose, Vereda Vega Grande and Vereda Cabecera, and Coromoro, at Vereda Laguna and Vereda Mina (Velásquez-Tibatá et al. 2005). Overall, it appears to be restricted to the larger oak forest remnants in the eastern Cordillera, including the Serrania de Yariguies and Norandino Oak Forest Corridor. Both remnants have decreased considerably in size in recent decades (J. Velasquez and N. Silva in litt. 2004). There have recently been reports in Cundinamarca (Cortes and Chaves 2000, eBird 2018). The total population is thought to be small and is presumably declining. Its stronghold is in the Yariguíes National Park and adjacent ProAves Reinta Cerulea Reserve, which probably support a few thousand individuals (Donegan et al. 2005, Turner 2006).

It inhabits humid subtropical and temperate forests dominated by oak and laurel. It is only known to occur at 1,750-2,050 m, but may have an elevational range of 1,500-2,500 m. Although probably dependent on primary forest for at least part of its life-cycle, it has been recorded in degraded habitats and secondary forest. It forages for fruit, seeds and arthropods. The breeding season appears to coincide with peaks in annual rainfall between March and May, and between September and November.

Since the 17th century, the west slope of the east Andes has been extensively logged and converted to agriculture, including pastures and, at lower altitudes, coffee, plantain and sugarcane plantations (Stiles et al. 1999). Forest loss below 2,500 m has been almost complete (Stattersfield et al. 1998), with habitat in many areas reduced to tiny, isolated relicts on steep slopes and along streams. These landscape changes accelerated during the 20th century, especially after 1960, although there has been some modest recovery in recent years (Stiles et al. 1999, Renjifo et al. 2014). Hunting for domestic consumption and predation by dogs are also threats (Donegan et al. 2005, Renjifo et al. 2014). Selective logging and hunting affects birds in the lower part of Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce, but the forest is largely intact at 1,950-2,200 m.

Conservation Actions Underway
The Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, protecting 100 km² of forest extending from 1,950-2,200 to 3,000-3,900 m, was gazetted in November 1993 (Andrade and Repizzo 1994, Wege and Long 1995). The species is also protected by the adjacent Cachalu Biological Reserve, with frequent sightings there since 1999 (J. Velásquez-Tibatá and N. Silva in litt. 2004). The declaration of the Yariguíes National Park (which comprises a substantial 200,000 ha primary forest fragment, almost all of which is at suitable elevations for this species) and ProAves reserves were a major step forwards for the conservation of this species (T. Donegan in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor the population size and trend. Ensure effective protection for the Serrania de los Yariguíes National Park. Identify and survey remnant forests elsewhere in Santander, outside Cachalú and Yariguíes (T. Donegan in litt. 2012). Develop initiatives to protect any additional sites discovered, including targeted land acquisition where appropriate.

25 cm. Forest partridge with black-and-white throat-bands. Male has blackish-brown short crest and ear-coverts, speckled black-and-white facial area, black throat, sides of neck and chest with white collar across lower throat. Rufous-chestnut underparts with white spotting on breast. Dark brown upperparts, spotted black and lightly streaked buff on mantle. Female similar with white chin and throat, and black, spotted band across centre of throat. Similar spp. Only wood-quail in range with black-and-white throat-bands. Voice Loud, rollicking song, typically heard during early morning.

Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Sharpe, C.J., Symes, A., Wheatley, H., Keane, A., Khwaja, N., Capper, D., Mahood, S.

Contributors
Donegan, T., Salaman, P.G.W., Silva, N. & Velásquez, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Gorgeted Wood-quail Odontophorus strophium. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/gorgeted-wood-quail-odontophorus-strophium on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.