Singing quail

Scientific name: Dactylortyx thoracicus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are compact quail with a distinctive black face mask, russet breast, and scaled underparts; females are duller brown overall with less contrast. Both sexes measure approximately 20 cm in length with a rounded body shape and short tail.

Size and weight

Males 170–200 g; females 160–185 g. Body length 18–22 cm.

Habitat

Singing quail inhabit dense, brushy oak and pine-oak forests at elevations between 1,500–3,000 m. They prefer steep, mountainous terrain with thick understory cover and scattered grassland patches.

Distribution

Endemic to Mexico, found in the highlands from central Durango south through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Transvolcanic Belt to Oaxaca. They occupy humid montane forests at mid to high elevations within their range.

Diet

Singing quail feed on seeds from grasses and forbs, small invertebrates, and green vegetation, with insect intake increasing during breeding season.

Behaviour

Primarily ground-dwelling and terrestrial; most active at dawn and dusk, remaining close to cover. They are solitary or found in pairs; movement is typically running or short, explosive flights when flushed.

Hunting tips

Look for their distinctive calls at dawn to locate birds; scan dense brushy areas and forest edges where vegetation meets open ground. Move slowly and quietly through thick cover, pausing frequently to listen and observe. Approach uphill when possible, using terrain folds and dense brush for concealment while working toward calling birds or flushed individuals.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.