Quails

Abstract

AbstractSix species of quails occur on western United States (U.S.) rangelands: northern bobwhite, scaled quail, Gambel’s quail, California quail, Montezuma quail, and mountain quail. These quails are found across a variety of vegetation types ranging from grasslands to mountain shrublands to coniferous woodlands. Given their ecological importance and gamebird status, there is considerable conservation, management, and research interest by ecologists and the public. Western quails in general are r-selected species whose populations are strongly influenced by weather. Based on Breeding Bird Survey data, 3 species are declining (northern bobwhite, scaled quail, and mountain quail), 2 species have inconclusive data (Gambel’s quail and Montezuma quail), and 1 species is increasing (California quail). Grazing represents a valuable practice that can be used to create or maintain quail habitat on western rangelands if applied appropriately for a given species, site productivity, and prevailing climate. Invasive, nonnative grasses represent a notable threat to quails and their habitat given the negative influence that nonnative grasses have on the taxon. Numerous conservation programs exist for public and privately-owned rangelands with potential to create thousands of hectares of habitat for western quails. Although the taxon is relatively well-studied as a group, additional research is needed to quantify the cumulative impact of climate change, landscape alterations, and demographic processes on quail-population viability. In addition, research on quail response to rangeland-management practices is limited in scope (only 1–2 species) and geographic extent (mostly Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico) and warrants further investigation.