Marbled Wood-Quail vs Black-breasted Wood-Quail

The Marbled Wood-Quail and Black-breasted Wood-Quail can be distinguished by their plumage and habitat. The Marbled Wood-Quail is found in lowland forests, while the Black-breasted Wood-Quail is restricted to highlands in Costa Rica and western Panama. The Black-breasted Wood-Quail has darker plumage with a distinctive black breast and belly.

Look for the black breast and belly of the Black-breasted Wood-Quail. Note the habitat: lowland for Marbled Wood-Quail and highland for Black-breasted Wood-Quail.

The Marbled Wood-Quail does not have the distinctive black breast and belly of the Black-breasted Wood-Quail. The Black-breasted Wood-Quail features darker tones overall, with dark brown upperparts and a variable white throat patch.

Both species are often heard more than seen and forage on the ground, but the Black-breasted Wood-Quail is noted for forming larger coveys of up to 10-15 individuals.

The Marbled Wood-Quail inhabits lowland forests, whereas the Black-breasted Wood-Quail is found in humid montane forests of the highlands in Costa Rica and western Panama.