Interestong Facts of Quail and Pheasants (2024)

FAQs

Are pheasants and quails the same thing? ›

The fowl-like birds known as quail and partridge are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae, which also includes the pheasants and peaco*cks. Some scientists also consider turkeys and chickens to be part of the same family.

Quails are very tasty. Also quail meat is high in iron, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients. It's also richer in vitamin A than chicken and duck meat. Quails are also good to eat because they have more amino acids and minerals than duck and chicken.

Interesting Facts

Powerful leg muscles enable this beautiful game bird to swiftly retreat to cover, taking 18 to 24-inch strides. When threatened, a pheasant will burst into flight with a rapid flurry of short wing beats, rise a short distance, lock its wings, and glide into protective cover.

Small twigs, grass stems, leaves and feathers line the nest. Average life expectancy for a wild quail is 1.5 years although on occasion they may live for up to four years. Mature birds average eleven inches long and weigh from 5.1 to 6.5 ounces (160 to 200 grams.)

Accipiters are considered some of the most efficient predators that quail face, with Cooper's hawks being touted as “the outstanding natural enemy of the bobwhite” (Stoddard 1931). Other raptors known to take grown bobwhites include various broad–winged hawks, a.k.a. Buteos (Buteo spp).

A group of pheasants is called a nest, nide (nye), or bouquet. Pheasants are hunted for sport and for meat. Because of their attractive plumage, some species of pheasant are kept as ornamental birds.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "pheasant" ultimately comes from Phasis, the ancient name of what is now called the Rioni River in Georgia.

While pheasants are able to fly fast for short distances, they prefer to run. If startled however, they will burst to the sky in a "flush." Their flight speed is 38 to 48 mph when cruising but when chased they can fly up to 60 mph. Pheasants spend almost their entire life on the ground, rarely ever being seen in trees.

Provide more space. Quail are naturally ground-dwelling birds that roam around, foraging for food throughout the day. More space will help to not only make your quail a lot happier, but also encourage mental stimulation, exercise and discourage fights between the flock.

For example, quail will eat lots of insects and seeds in the spring and early summer since they are very plentiful, but they will switch and eat more green vegetation in the late summer, fall and winter as seeds and insects become more scarce.

What are the unique characteristics of quails? ›

Pheasants are known to eat a variety of bird seeds, grains, berries, shoots and even insects. It's likely that in winter their diet will include more seeds, whereas summer they may eat more insects. They typically feed on the ground, but can sometimes be spotted eating in trees.

Intelligence. As for temperament, pheasants are intelligent and often view humans as threats, so they can get aggressive. Pheasants don't migrate very far, as opposed to quails, who do. Pheasants are actually highly endangered in some parts of the world.

On average a quail will lay about one egg per day at peak production. Egg production will begin to slow down around the age of 2-3 years. Quail require about 14 hours of daylight in order to lay eggs. Their egg production can be extended by providing a light source during times of the year with shorter daylight hours.

They will readily eat seeds from many different forbs, including Annual Broomweed, Buffalo-bur, Annual sunflower, Cowpen Daisy, Croton, and Snow-on-the-Mountain. Grass seeds are another important element of a quail's diet, with Johnsongrass and Plains bristlegrass being a couple of their favorites.

The oldest recorded Montezuma Quail was a captive individual that lived to be 8 years old; there is no age record for a wild individual.