The food habits, habitat and movements of mountain quail in Idaho

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The food habits, habitat and movements of mountain quail were studied in the Big Canyon Creek drainage of the lower Snake River and in the Juliaetta, Idaho, vicinity. Fringecup bulblets were the most important food found in 48 quail crops collected in the Juliaetta area from April through November, 1965. Animal matter accounted for about 1% and 7.5% of the food of adults and young, respectively. Elderberry fruits accounted for 47.6% of the food of 12 quail collected in the fall of 1964 from the Big Canyon Creek area. Animal matter made up 5.8% of the diet. Mountain quail habitat was dominated by shrubs. In the Big Canyon Creek area, snowberry, rose, ninebark, and serviceberry were the most important. Dominant shrubs in the Juliaetta area were snowberry, syringa, hawthorn, chokecherry, and ocean spray. Daily range of mountain quail was restricted to the brushy draws. The birds probably did not move more than one-half mile unless disturbed. After wintering below the snowline, coveys began to disperse in late February, and some birds moved upslope to breed. In summer and fall the birds were found anywhere near water within their range.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Ormiston JH. 1966. The food habits, habitat and movements of mountain quail in Idaho [master's thesis]. Moscow (ID): University of Idaho. 40 p.