A medium-sized quail with long straight plume on head. Largest US quail.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The mountain quail is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. This species is the only one in the genus Oreortyx, which is sometimes included in Callipepla. This is not appropriate, however, as the mountain quail's ancestors diverged from other New World quails earlier than the bobwhites, no later than 6 mya.
Source: Wikipedia — Mountain quail Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Plump quail with a long, straight head plume, a chestnut throat bordered in white, a gray breast, and boldly white-barred chestnut flanks.
Similar species. California and Gambel's quail have short curling topknots and scaly or plain bellies; the Mountain Quail's long straight plume and barred chestnut flanks are diagnostic.
Voice. A loud, far-carrying, repeated 'queark' or 'kyork' given from a perch, mainly in spring.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds, insects, small fruits.
Behavior. The largest North American quail, a shy bird of western mountain brush and chaparral; coveys walk single-file along slopes and move up and down the mountain with the seasons.
§ Range
Western mountain forests
§ Habitat
Coniferous and mixed mountain forests
§ Threats
Habitat loss, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the mountain quail is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support western mountain forest conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Mountain quail
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Oreortyx pictus
- IUCN Red List — search for Oreortyx pictus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Oreortyx pictus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
