This quail walks along the forest floor in search of food. Its white throat and dark breast are distinctive, though its plumage pattern varies among individuals.
The upperparts are dark brown with fine black markings. The throat is white, while the breast and sides are dark; white belly bands and other markings vary among individuals.
Black-breasted Wood-Quail forage and roost together in small groups in Costa Rica’s wet mountain forests.
In2000–2002 Monteverde surveys, counted coveys averaged four adults. Resightings showed that groups persisted across years.
Groups also occupied remnant forest and windbreaks connected by wooded ravines and streams.
IUCN Red List (BirdLife listing) · Least Concern · Global
BirdLife lists Least Concern with a decreasing trend; habitat destruction and unsustainable hunting are threats. The Monteverde study documented connected, fenced forest patches, highlighting understory cover and wooded links.