Buffy-crowned wood-partridge

Scientific name: Dendrortyx leucophrys

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small, compact partridge with buffy-cream crown and eyebrow stripe; dark rufous-brown upperparts and grey underparts. Males slightly larger than females; both sexes lack pronounced sexual dimorphism in plumage.

Size and weight

Males 20–23 cm, 110–140 g; females 19–22 cm, 100–130 g.

Habitat

Inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests on slopes between 1,500–3,200 m elevation. Prefers dense understory with thick leaf litter and moss-covered ground in areas of high rainfall.

Distribution

Endemic to highlands of southern Mexico (Chiapas) and Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador). Restricted to humid montane forest zones with year-round moisture.

Diet

Forages on ground for seeds, insects, small invertebrates, and fallen fruit; diet shifts toward more invertebrates during wet season.

Behaviour

Primarily terrestrial and solitary or in pairs; most active during early morning and late afternoon. Runs and hops along forest floor rather than flying; uses concealment and freezing as primary predator avoidance.

Hunting tips

Look for small scratch marks and shallow scrapes in leaf litter where birds forage; droppings are compact and cylindrical. Move slowly through dense understory, listening for soft calls and scratching sounds. Approach upslope using thick vegetation for cover; birds flush reluctantly and often run before taking short, labored flights.

Whole weight

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

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Honduras

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.