Montezuma Quail Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2024)

FAQs

Montezuma Quail Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology? ›

Despite the male's extravagant stripes, streaks, and polka dots, the Montezuma Quail

Quail is a collective name for several species of birds with similar appearance and behaviours. Quail are generally medium-sized (though tiny from the poultry-keeper's perspective) birds that are shy and ground dwelling. They eat a variety of insects, seeds and other plants.

The main strongholds of Montezuma Quail in southeastern Arizona are the Pajarito Wilderness, Canelo Hills, and Atascosa, Tumacacori, Santa Rita, Patagonia, Huachuca, and Chiricahua Mountains. They are less regular in the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains, and further north.

sallei Verreaux Salle's quail [10,17] ORDER : Galliformes CLASS : Bird FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : Merriam's Montezuma quail is Endangered [23].

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).

Montezuma Quail eat mainly tubers, acorns, and insects. They feed on the ground, where they move slowly through grasses and denser parts of woodland and dig into the ground in search of food. They often forage on the sides of hills, small gullies, creekbeds, and at the bases of rocks, trees, shrubs, or clumps of grass.

Various raptors, including Cooper's hawks, northern goshawks, northern harriers, as well as canine predators, such as coyotes, will target Montezuma quail. Much like other quail species in Texas, carnivores, including skunks and raccoons, or snakes may take advantage of the eggs if the nest is found (Greer).

Male "Masked" Bobwhite have fully black heads and reddish-brown underparts. They lack the white face and extensive white spots of Montezuma Quail.

Reproduction & Lifespan

Montezuma quails can live up to 7 years in captivity.

What is the behavior of the Montezuma quail? ›

The Montezuma Quail usually crouches and stays still when danger threatens, and then explodes into flight if the danger comes too close. In captivity, even with clipped wing feathers, it can leap at least 6.5 feet straight up with great force.

Ulcerative Enteritis is an acute, highly contagious disease of chickens and quail caused by the bacterium Clostridium colinum and characterised by ulcers of the intestines and caecae. It can start suddenly and cause high mortality: 100% in quail and 10% in chickens.

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.

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.