BIOLOGICAL DATA AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Cyrtonyx montezumae | Montezuma Quail 



TIMING OF MAJOR LIFE HISTORY EVENTS : 
Nesting:  The breeding season of Montezuma quail is relatively late;
monogamous pairing occurs from March to May and nesting occurs from late
June to as late as the last half of September.  This timing coordinates
with timing of summer rains, which increase plant growth and insects
[10,14].

Clutch Size and Incubation:  Montezuma quail clutches range in size from
6 to 14 eggs, with an average clutch of 11 eggs [14].  For captive
birds, eggs were laid at a rate of about one egg every 3 days, which is
probably slower than for wild birds [10].  Incubation takes 25 or 26
days, with minor participation by the male.  Males are the primary
defenders of the nest [7].

Development of Young:  Newly hatched chicks are mobile and downy.  They
follow their parents, who show them how to find food [7].  The chicks
eat insects, seeds, and bulbs [10].  Fledging occurs about 10 days after
hatching [7].  Young birds forage independently by 2 weeks of age.  For
captive birds, adult weights are reached by about 10 to 11 weeks of age
[10].

Covey Formation:  Most fall coveys are composed of family units [10] and
range in size from 6 to 10 birds.  Coveys occupy relatively small home
ranges [7].  Leopold and McCabe [14] estimated that ranges encompassed
an area 200 yards (180 m) in radius.  They reported, however, that
coveys tended to move over a wider range for a short period in autumn
before establishing the home range [14].


PREFERRED HABITAT : 
The Montezuma quail prefers shaded grassy oak canyons, wooded mountain
slopes with bunchgrasses and bulb-producing forbs in the understory, and
rocky ravines [6].  Breeding habitat is the same [7].

Montezuma quail are found from from 3,500 to 10,000 feet (1,060-3,000 m)
in elevation [10,17].  There is some altitudinal migration with the
season; upward movements in the summer probably do not exceed a few
miles [10].


COVER REQUIREMENTS : 
Hiding Cover:  Montezuma quail are typically associated with dense, tall
grasses; foraging for bulbs occurs almost exclusively from grass cover
that is at least 1 foot (0.3 m) tall [1].

Nesting cover:  Montezuma quail nests are depressions scratched in the
ground at the base of trees, next to boulders, under shrubs, or in
grassy meadows [66].  They are lined and covered with dry grasses [18].


FOOD HABITS : 
Montezuma quail coveys feed in close groups by digging bulbs, foraging
for fruit, and ground-gleaning for seeds and insects.  The bulk of the
winter diet is comprised of bulbs of succulent forbs [6].  Winter foods
in order of importance include the bulbs of chufa flatsedge (Cyperus
esculentus), nutgrass (Cyperus rotunda) and other sedges (Cyperus spp.),
acorns, sunflower (Helianthus spp.) seeds, Brodiaea spp.  bulbs, and
prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) [10,14,15].  Acorns of Gambel oak (Quercus
gambellii) are important in southeastern Arizona; in one study acorns
made up as much as 40 percent of Montezuma quail diets [2,16].

In summer, woodsorrel (Oxalis spp.) bulbs are consumed [15].  Additional
foods include seeds of legumes, grasses, and true pinyon (Pinus edulis),
and juniper (Juniperus spp.) "berries" [18].

According to Martin and others [15] the animal portion of the winter
diet of Montezuma quail is limited.  Animals taken include beetles
(particularly ground beetles, darkling beetles, and weevils),
caterpillars, fly larvae, spiders, and centipedes [15].  Animal foods
are taken in quantity during the summer months, or whenever available [10,14].

If the supply of succulent foods is adequate, the Montezuma quail can
manage without access to surface water [10,14].


PREDATORS : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Management of Montezuma quail includes maintenance of winter habitat
since this quail is a year-round resident.  Winter habitat requirements
include areas where bulbs and acorns are available [7].

Montezuma quail density even in good habitat is usually low; an estimate
of one bird per 10 hectare was reported for northern Chihuahua [14].

Populations of Montezuma quail in undisturbed habitat tend to fluctuate
annually; reproductive success is positively correlated with the amount
of summer precipitation in any given year.  Any factors reducing the
amount of tall grass cover have an adverse effect on Montezuma quail.
In western Texas, the Montezuma quail is now only local and rare because
a large percentage of its native range has disappeared due to
overgrazing [10].  Heavy grazing reduces tall grass cover and increases
patchiness of the remaining cover.  Grazing 46 to 50 percent of an area
produces marginal conditions for Montezuma quail; heavier grazing
eliminates the quail [1].

Reducting Gambel oak stands for timber or grazing improvements could
reduce habitat value by reducing the acorns available for Montezuma
quail and other wildlife species in autumn and winter [16].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Cyrtonyx montezumae | Montezuma Quail