Species profile
About this species
The Chestnut Wood Quail is a plump, richly coloured gamebird endemic to the humid montane forests of Colombia & northwest Ecuador. It displays striking chestnut-rufous plumage with a bold facial pattern, and is more often heard than seen due to its secretive nature within dense understorey vegetation. The species typically forages in small coveys on the forest floor, scratching through leaf litter in search of seeds & invertebrates.
Dense humid montane cloud forest & forest understorey, typically between 1,500 & 2,800 metres elevation in the Andes of Colombia & northwest Ecuador, where thick leaf litter & tangled vegetation provide cover for foraging & roosting.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Chestnut Wood Quail with us in Colombia.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning at dawn is the optimal time of day, as the birds are most active & vocal during this period. The dry season months between December & March tend to offer better visibility along forest trails & more predictable bird movement in the Colombian Andes.
Position yourself quietly near forest trails at dawn when the birds are most active & vocal, allowing you to locate coveys by their distinctive calls before attempting to photograph them. Use a fast lens with a wide aperture such as f/2.8 to f/4 to compensate for the low light conditions of the forest floor & achieve a clean separation from the busy background. Remain still & patient after spotting a covey, as sudden movement will cause the birds to retreat rapidly into thick cover - slow, deliberate repositioning will yield the best results.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Chestnut Wood Quail
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.
