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

Justification of Red List category

This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion. The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The population size is unknown. A population density of 28.7 individuals per km² was reported for a site without hunting at the upper Maro river in the Brazilian Amazon, with little difference found between the population densities at unhunted and hunted sites in the region (Peres et al. 2003).

Trend justification
Remote sensing data on loss of tree cover with at least 50% canopy cover within the species's range indicate that approximately 6% was lost over the past three generations (15 years; Global Forest Watch 2021). Over four years from 2016-2019, approximately 2.4% was lost. Assuming this rate continues, up to 9% of tree cover may be lost from the species's range over three generations from 2016, and over three generations into the future.

Although this species has some tolerance of secondary forest, its population size is expected to be affected by deforestation. In the heavily deforested Tocantins-Araguaia interfluve, where there are historical records from the 1960s, there have been very few recent records (T. Dornas in litt. 2021), demonstrating the species's dependence on forest. Additionally, it is hunted in parts of the range, which may be contributing to declines in some areas. Nevertheless, declines are likely to be slow overall. Studies in the Peruvian Amazon over 20 years from the mid-1990s indicated a stable population size (D. Brooks in litt. 2021). Overall, the population size is suspected to be declining at a rate of less than 20% over three generations.

Odontophorus gujanensis is restricted to the Neotropics. It has a disjunct range, and eight recognised subspecies. Subspecies castigatus is likely to have been extirpated from Panama, and is now found only in a restricted area of Costa Rica. Subspecies marmoratus ranges from east Panama, where it can be locally common away from human settlements, to north Colombia and north-west Venezuela. The nominate subspecies gujanensis is uncommon in south-east Venezuela; from there its range spreads east through Guyana to Suriname and French Guiana (it is frequent in both of these countries), and south through parts of Brazil (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Restall et al. 2006). Subspecies medius occurs in south Venezuela and north-west Brazil. Subspecies buckleyi occurs at the base of Colombia's east Andes, in east Ecuador and in north Peru. Subspecies rufogularis is endemic to north-east Peru. Subspecies pachyrhynchus is known from east Peru, where it is common, and may also occur in west Bolivia. Subspecies simonsi is endemic to east Bolivia (del Hoyo et al. 1994).

This is a forest floor species of lowland tropical forest up to 1,800 m. It appears tolerant of secondary growth (Skutch 1947). It has been recorded feeding on berries and myriapods in Suriname, other invertebrates and starchy seeds in Panama, and dried bananas in Costa Rica. Breeding times appear to be variable: nests have been found in January, April and June, and a breeding condition female collected in August. The nest is a roofed chamber built at the base of trees (del Hoyo et al. 1994).

The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in the Amazon basin as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). It is also hunted, although it is inconspicuous and difficult to hunt, and surveys at the upper Maro river in the Brazilian Amazon found little difference in population densities in unhunted and hunted sites in the region (Peres et al. 2003). However, surveys in French Guiana found a reduction in mean frequency in hunted forest in comparison with unhunted forest (Thiollay 2005).

Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in protected areas.

Conservation Actions Proposed

Carry out surveys to determine the population size and to monitor population trends. Research the impact of hunting on the species's population size. Monitor trends in habitat loss across its range.
Expand the protected area network to effectively protect IBAs. Effectively resource and manage existing and new protected areas. Conservation on private lands, through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture, is also essential (Soares-Filho et al. 2006).

23-29 cm. Medium-sized, brown quail. Plumage plain; distinctive features include eye-ring of red or orange bare skin and a reddish brown crown and crest.

Text account compilers
Wheatley, H.

Contributors
Lees, A., Ekstrom, J., Khwaja, N., Butchart, S., Symes, A., Brooks, D. & Dornas, T.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Marbled Wood-quail Odontophorus gujanensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/marbled-wood-quail-odontophorus-gujanensis on 18/12/2024.
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 18/12/2024.