Tawny-faced Quail
EN

Tawny-faced Quail

Rhynchortyx cinctus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawny-faced_quail

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Tawny-faced Quail faces severe pressure from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited Central American range. Logging operations and cattle ranching have fragmented its preferred humid forest habitats, while the species' ground-dwelling nature makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns in the tropical forests this quail depends upon for foraging and nesting.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Tawny-faced Quail inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests from sea level to approximately 1,200 meters elevation. It prefers dense understory vegetation in primary and mature secondary forests, particularly areas with thick leaf litter where it forages for insects, seeds, and small invertebrates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Tawny-faced Quail classified as Endangered?
Tawny-faced Quail is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Tawny-faced Quail faces severe pressure from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited Central American range. Logging operations and cattle ranching have fragmented its preferred humid forest habitats, while the species' ground-dwelling nature makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns in the tropical forests this quail depends upon for foraging and nesting.
Where does Tawny-faced Quail live?
Tawny-faced Quail occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Tawny-faced Quail?
The main threats to Tawny-faced Quail are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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