Bobwhite Quail Food Habits in the Southeastern United States with a Seed Key to Important Foods

Authors

• J. Larry Landers
• A. Sydney Johnson

Date of this Version

1976

Document Type

Article

Citation

Tall Timbers Research Station / Miscellaneous Publications, number 4

Tallahassee, Florida, 1976

Comments

Copyright 1976, the authors. Used by permission

Abstract

A search of the literature revealed 27 studies of food habits of bobwhite quail in the southeastern United States. These include data from nearly 20 ,000 birds. In this publication all seed foods reported in these studies are listed and evaluated, and a key to important species is included. Over 650 seed foods are listed, and volume and frequency classes are given for each seed food as reported in each study. Only 78 foods comprised 1 percent or more of the food volume in one or more studies. The 45 most important foods are ranked for each physiographic province. The key treats 129 genera of plants, encompassing at least 850 species in the Southeast. Many seeds can be identified to species with the key. Photographs of 189 kinds of seeds are also included.