There are many different Species and sub-species of Quail. They are related to the Pheasant among other common game birds.
The Mountain Quail lives in Western North America in a range roughly from Washington south to Northern California. They have also been introduced into Western Idaho.
They are the largest North American Quail. They prefer to live in mixed evergreen forests and woodlands. They are plumed species and both male and female have crests though the female’s is shorter and less colorful.
In the wild they have a stable population and are popular game birds for hunters in the West.
The Scaled Quail’s range is an area including Southeastern Colorado Southwestern Kansas, the Oklahoma Panhandle, New Mexico, western Texas the southern parts of Arizona and down into central Mexico.
Their habitat consists of the arid grasslands of states such as Kansas to the scrub and desert areas of Arizona and New Mexico.
They are still hunted quite a lot however they have been showing a steady decline in numbers in the last 40 years so must be managed responsibly.
The most common and wide ranging member of the American Quail family is the Bobwhite Quail. There are no less than 22 sub-species ranging from Canada to Southern Mexico. They also have been introduced as a game species in Hawaii and other countries such as New Zealand.
The Bobwhite is a medium-sized quail. They get around mainly by running on the ground. They are different from the other Quail in that they only have a slight crest on their small head. They are plump with very short tails.
Their habitat consists of fields near woods such as along fence rows. They also spend much time in the briars as there is open ground underneath them for fast getaways and protection above from predators.
They are a widely hunted and important game bird Bobwhite Quail are extensively hunted in many areas of the country therefore good management strategies are a must to keep the populations healthy and strong for the coming years. You can always tell when a Bobwhite is around as its call announces its name as well as its presence.