Guides - Sonoma Birding

Flocks of people have been popping up everywhere talking about a certain bird. Why? It all started with the question: What birds start with the letter Q? Now I'm sure you're curious. Well…actually I mean you are curious. But luckily, if you'll follow me down this rabbit hole, we may find out. If you are out there to list down the names of birds that start with the letter Q, well look no further. Because we have gone to great lengths and even traveled in time and space to bring you this compilation. We aim to please and we love to bird-watch too. Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis) Belonging to the family of the Estrildid Finches (Estrildidae), the Quailfinches are tiny passerine birds endemic to Africa. These birds are commonly seen inhabiting the open grasslands within their range and are resident species. The IUCN had declared the population of Quailfinches to be under the Threatened Species List until it was moved back to the Least Concerned List in 2013. Quailfinches are primarily ground-dwelling birds that you will almost always find hopping on the ground, including foraging. These birdies are voracious seed-eaters, and their short, which is why their thick bill is designed to help them in eating seeds. Quailfinches have a short, stocky body colored in a dark shade of greyish-brown, with heavy white streaking on their throat, flanks, and rump. Their feet and legs are very similar to that of the larks, which enables them to walk on the ground for longer periods. Some ornithologists and naturalists believe that the origin of the subfamily of estrildid finches finds its roots in India. From here, they might have dispersed to Africa over time. There are three subspecies of the Quailfinches, namely: African, Black-faced, and Black-chinned Quailfinches. All three of these birds were once considered individual species but are now categorized to be conspecific with the Quailfinches. Black-faced Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis atricollis) Black-faced Quailfinches are the nominate species of Quailfinches. They have a red bill, brown body, an orange belly, and white streaks all over their underparts. African Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis fuscocrissa) Also referred to as “Spectacled Quailfinch” and “White-chinned Quailfinch,” the African Quailfinches are a Quailfinch subspecies found in the southern and eastern regions of Africa. These birds have the darkest bodies among all Quailfinch subspecies. They have a dull orange belly patch and a red bill that appears contrasting to the rest of their body. Both sexes have the same plumage; only the females have a duller plumage. Black-chinned Quailfinch (Ortygospiza atricollis gabonensis) Also known as “Red-billed Quailfinch,” the Black-chinned Quailfinches are a Quailfinch subspecies distributed in the central African regions. These birds have a dull grey and olive-green plumage, being the dullest of all three subspecies. Quebracho Crested Tinamou (Eudromia Formosa) The Quebracho Crested Tinamous are members of the Tinamou family, which is a sister group to the family of the flightless ratites. These South American Tinamous receive their name by their widespread population in the quebracho woodlands located in northern Argentina. Quebracho Crested Tinamous have two subspecies that have little variation in plumage but occur in different locations. These birds have dark heads with several white stripes running down their throats. Their upper parts are greyish and display heavy streaking, with a white underbody. Although the Quebracho Crested Tinamous have shorter legs than the ratites, they’re also primarily ground-dwelling. They have an omnivorous diet, including flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, fruits, and invertebrates. Quailfinch Indigobird (Vidua nigeriae) The Quailfinch Indigobirds are African birds belonging to the Viduidae family, which also consists of cuckoo-finches and whydahs. These birds are a non-migratory species and remain in their breeding ground all year long. Quailfinch Indigobirds were initially considered a subspecies of the Variable Indigobirds, but a deeper study of their anatomy and personality depicted them to be an individual species. These birds are brood parasites, with a tendency of laying their eggs in the nest of the African Quailfinches. They’re very secretive in nature and avoid dwelling alongside humans. To find them, you need to search isolated central and west Africa localities, particularly the river flood plains. The adult Quailfinch Indigobirds are sexually dimorphic, with the males harboring a striking, greenish-black plumage. On the other hand, their female counterparts are colored in dull brown and are often compared to the female House Sparrows. The primary diet of Quailfinch Indigobirds consists of grains and seeds. Quail-plover (Ortyxelos meiffrenii) The Quail-plovers are the monotypic member of their genus. They belong to the buttonquail family, which is why they’re also referred to as “Lark-buttonquail.” These birds also have a flight style similar to the larks, which is why they’re called “Lark-plover.” Quail-plovers are quite tiny and short-tailed birds and appear very similar to the Cursors on the ground. They have a sand-colored head and upper body with white stripes running along their face. Their upper parts are streaked with white, while their undersides are pale buff and unmarked. They have dark eyes and pale, skin-colored legs. Both sexes of the adult Quail-plovers have the same plumage, although the males are paler than their female counterparts. Queen Whydah (Vidua regia) Queen Whydahs are African passerine birds that are sized similar to the sparrows. These birds have a quite widespread distribution within Africa and are declared to be a Least Concern species by the IUCN. These birds can commonly be found in the grasslands and other open habitats in the southern parts of Africa. They’re primarily seed-eaters, with different varieties of seeds and grains making up over 90% of their diet. The adult Queen Wydahs display sexual dimorphism in their breeding plumage. The breeding males have a jet-black crown atop their head, dark upperparts, and elongated tail shaft feathers, which lends them their other name, the “Shaft-tailed Whydah.” Their underbody is bright yellow in contrast. Outside of the breeding season, both sexes display a dull, olive-brown plumage which makes it easier for them to blend into their surroundings and avoid predation. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird (Lophorina victoriae) Queen Victoria’s Riflebirds are a bird-of-paradise species endemic to Queensland, Australia. These birds are non-migratory and are known by several names, such as “Lesser Riflebird” and “Victoria Riflebird.” Queen Victoria’s Riflebirds are the smallest members of the riflebird family. The adults of this species display a significant sexual dimorphism in their plumage. The males have a blue-green head, bronze breast, and underbody, while their upper parts are covered in a bright shade of glossy purple. They have a black velvet patch in the center of their throat, atop which a metallic blue triangle can be spotted. On the other hand, their female counterparts have a dark brown plumage with paler, buff underparts. Conclusion: Birds That Start With Q It has been a while since we had so much fun with an article, and we hope it lasts long. We really hope you love this list as much as we loved putting it together. Now, if you want to thank us for this post, the best way would be to forward it to all your friends. Then you'll help other people find out about these amazing birds! If you want further information, don’t be afraid to reach out. Good luck with your birding adventures!