Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies
Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials
Accessibility Remediation
If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.
Date of this Version
11-1977
Document Type
Article
Citation
United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service / Research Paper RM-197
Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colorado, November 1977
Abstract
Populations of both Gambel's and scaled quail surveyed in southern Arizona declined by 60% from October 1975 to June 1976. Masked bobwhite population density increased during the study because of additional releases, but survival patterns are uncertain. Raptors were efficient quail predators.
Gambel's quail were associated with a dense overstory of mesquite, hackberry, wolfberry, and catclaw. Understory species varied in density and appeared less essential to good habitat. Scaled quail preferred open, grass-shrub habitat, with few of the plants over 6 feet tall. Masked bobwhite selected dense, grass-weed habitat, with pigweed a characteristic species.
Green vegetation and insects were seasonally important as moisture sources. Free water was not necessary for these quail part of the year.
Comments
United States government work