Mountain Quail

(Oreortyx pictus)

• Avicultural Data
• Images
• Bibliography
• Links

Oreortyx pictus Photo by Dan Cowell

Other Names: Mountain Partridge, Painted Quail, Plumed Quail

Subspecies: Five according to Johnsgard: Sierra Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus pictus, Coast Mountain Quail O. p. palmeri, San Pedro Mountain Quail O. p. confinis, Desert Mountain Quail O. p. eremophila, Pallid Mountain Quail O. p. russelli.

Range: Western North America; from Washington south to northern Baja California, introduced into western Idaho.

Habitat: Mixed evergreen forests and woodlands.

Description: The largest North American quail, the Mountain Quail is distinguished from the other western plumed species in both sexes having straight, narrow crests. The crests are black and consist of only two feathers, the female's crest is usually shorter and more brownish than the males (she also more brown on the back of the neck, compared to bluish-gray in the males), otherwise the sexes are similar.

Status in Wild: Wild populations of Mountain Quail are stable and are popular with hunters in the west.

Avicultural Data

Status in Aviculture: Mountain Quail are well established and popular aviary birds.

Breeding Season: Late March & early April to June.

Clutch Size: 6 to 15; egg color: Pale buff to cream.

Incubation Period: 24 to 25 days.

Misc. Aviculture Notes: Mountain Quail do very when kept in large aviaries with lots of evergreen branches for them to perch and hide. A hardy species, they are very adaptable and can withstand both extremes of temperature.

Artificially reared chicks are prone to toe picking. Can be controlled by placing alfalfa hay on bottom of brooder, use dimly lit brooders and/or trim the upper beak back about 1/3. If you need to feed mealworms to encourage the birds to eat, cut into small pieces and only feed for a few days (the worms resemble toes).

Click on thumbnails for larger views.

Photo Credits
(l to r): 1, Kevin Chou; 2, Mark Wagoner; 3, Jim Riddle; 4, Bud & RoxAnn Riggs.

• Hayes, LB. 1995. Upland Game Birds: Their Breeding and Care. Leland Hayes, Valley Center, CA.
• Johnsgard, P.A. 1988. The Quails, Partridges, and Francolins of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
• Madge, S., McGowan, P. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

Links related to this species. Please note, links will open in a new window.

• Mountain Quail - California Partners in Flight factsheet.
• All About Birds: Mountain Quail - Cornell Lab of Ornithology factsheet.
• Mountain Quail - Mangoverde World Bird Guide Species Page; Images & Sounds.
• Mountain Quail - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter.
• Wikipedia - Mountain Quail - Wikipedia's species page.