INCUBATION AND BROOD REARING BY A WILD MALE MOUNTAIN QUAIL

Abstract

The Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) is among the most poorly known birds of the American West. No comprehensive study of the species’ breeding biology exists (Gutiérrez 1975, 1980). This is unfortunate because Mountain Quail populations have declined significantly in Washington (Wash. Dept. of Wildlife 1993), Oregon (K. Durbin, Ore. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, pers. comm.), Idaho (T. Hemker, Ida. Dept. of Fish and Game, pers. comm.), and Nevada (S. Stiver, Nev. Div. of Wildlife, pers. comm.).