Fall and winter diets of mountain quail in southwestern Oregon

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Abstract:

Ninety mountain quail crops were collected in the fall of 1994-96 and the winter of 1998-99 to determine diets of mountain quail in the southwestern Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Mountain quail consumed items from 61 plant taxa, but the bulk of their diet was composed of 13 major plant genera or species. Legumes were the most prominent food consumed by Mountain Quail. In the fall, deervetch species accounted for 47% of the total dry weight and were found in 58% of the crops. Hairy vetch constituted 38% of the dry weight of crops collected during the winter and occurred in 50% of the crops. Other legumes commonly eaten during the fall. were black medic, clover, peavine, and Scot's-broom. California hedge-parsley, manzanita, and hawthorn were frequently used in the winter. Mountain quail ate greater quantities of grasses and green foliage in the winter, but berries were consumed more during the fall. In fall and winter, insects were frequently found in crops, but composed ≤3 % of the total volume of the diet. Mountain quail in southwestern Oregon are opportunistic foragers that seasonally shift diets to take advantage of prevailing food abundances.

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Reference Code: A02POP01IDUS

Full Citation: Pope, M. D., N. Richardson, and J. A. Crawford. 2002. Fall and winter diets of mountain quail in southwestern Oregon. Northwest Science 76(3): 261-265.

Location: ANIMAL EF: OREORTYX PICTUS