Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus)

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The largest quail north of Mexico, the mountain quail is secretive and inhabits dense shrub and forest habitats of the Pacific Coast and western Great Basin of North America. It differs from other North American quail in many ways, including its ability to exploit high-elevation habitats by making long-distance seasonal movements, its sexual monomorphism in ritualized behaviors, and its unusually high degree of herbivory and ability to exploit temporarily abundant foods. Significant declines in Great Basin populations have motivated renewed research. This species account includes what is known about the characteristics, life history, and conservation needs of the mountain quail.

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Full Citation: Gutiérrez, R. J., and D. J. Delehanty. 1999. Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus). No. 457 in: The Birds of North America: life histories for the 21st century. Alan Poole and J. Gill, editors. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the American Ornithologists' Union. 27 pp.

Location: Wildlife Bureau Reference Shelves

See also: W99GUT01IDUS; this species account has become a living one at http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/457/, where changes, additions, revisions can be made at any time.