Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) are a relatively uncommon upland gamebird species found in the western United States. They inhabit montane and foothill habitats primarily in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada. With their topknot feathering, scaly belly feathers, and loud vocalizations, mountain quail exhibit unique characteristics that set them apart from other North American quail species. Due to declining population trends over the past several decades, mountain quail have become a species of conservation concern. But how rare are mountain quail currently? Let’s take a closer look at the status, distribution, habitat use, life history, and conservation efforts for this distinctive western quail.
Current Status and Conservation Rankings
Mountain quail are considered uncommon to rare throughout their range by wildlife biologists. Conservation organizations have designated the species as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and a National Species of Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NatureServe ranks mountain quail as G4 – Apparently Secure on a global level. State-level statuses include:
California
S3 – Vulnerable
Oregon
S3 – Vulnerable
Washington
S3S4 – Vulnerable/Apparently Secure
Idaho
S4 – Apparently Secure
Nevada
S4 – Apparently Secure
So while not currently considered globally rare or threatened with extinction, mountain quail have exhibited concerning population declines resulting in vulnerable or possibly secure status rankings, depending on the state. Increased conservation attention and habitat management will be important going forward to ensure stable mountain quail populations.
Distribution and Range
Mountain quail are found from southern British Columbia in Canada south along the Cascades and coastal ranges through Washington, Oregon and California. Their range extends east into the Rocky Mountains in Idaho, and also encompasses areas of western Nevada.
| State | Estimated Occupied Habitat (acres) |
|---|---|
| California | 2,800,000 |
| Oregon | 4,000,000 |
| Washington | 1,800,000 |
| Idaho | 4,000,000 |
| Nevada | 1,000,000 |
Mountain quail inhabit approximately 13,600,000 acres across their native range according to wildlife agency estimates. However, the species has disappeared from portions of its historic range, especially in Canada and the northern extent of their coastal distribution. Currently mountain quail are absent from Vancouver Island and the majority of southeastern British Columbia. Their distribution continues to decline across Washington and Oregon, and has contracted in portions of the Sierra Nevada range in California.
Habitat Associations
Mountain quail inhabit montane environments between 4000-9000 ft in elevation. Their habitat generally transitions between dense coniferous forests, to more open woodlands, brush stands and scrub environments. The mosaic of forest structure and clearings that occurs following disturbances like fire, logging or snow breakage provides optimal habitat. Riparian areas, mountain meadows, and edges along tree lines offer the diversity in cover and food resources that mountain quail require. Plants like serviceberry, elderberry, buckbrush, bittercherry, mountain mahogany and sagebrush are important sources of food and cover. An abundance and diversity of forbs also provide food in more open areas. Mountain quail diets consists primarily of seeds, fruits like acorns, buds, leaves, and some insects.
Life History
Mountain quail form flocks in fall and winter, breaking up into pairs and family groups as breeding season approaches in late April and May. Their breeding system is promiscuous, with both males and females mating with multiple partners. Females build nests on the ground concealed by shrubs, logs or clumps of grass. Average clutch size is 9-10 eggs, with the female incubating the eggs and caring for hatchlings on her own. Chicks are able to make short flights by two weeks old, and reach full size by 6-8 weeks of age. Survival rates for chicks and juveniles are typically low however, estimated between 15-30%.
Predators of eggs and young include a wide range of mammals like raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, weasels, and even deer. Adults face predation pressure from raptors, bobcats, coyotes and other larger mammals. Hunting also contributes to mortality in some states like Idaho and California. The average lifespan in the wild is 1-2 years. Mountain quail are considered short-lived for quail species.
Population Declines and Threats
Mountain quail populations are believed to have declined by at least 30% since 1966, and continuing downward trends have been observed in California, Oregon, Washington and portions of Idaho.
Habitat Loss
The greatest threat facing mountain quail is degradation, fragmentation and loss of their native habitat. Human land use changes negatively impact their montane woodland and shrubland environments. Residential development, roads, timber management practices, overgrazing by livestock, and recreational usage all contribute to habitat decline. Invasive plant species can displace native vegetation as well. Altered fire regimes and climate change also threaten to decrease habitats utilized by mountain quail.
Predators
Increased predation pressure from native and non-native predators may contribute to observed population declines. Human disruption of habitats likely benefits predator species to the detriment of mountain quail.
Over-hunting
Historically, unregulated hunting pressure caused decreases in many mountain quail populations. Regulations have improved, but small isolated groups could still be negatively impacted by hunting.
Harsh Winters
Being a short-lived species largely dependent on annual reproduction for population maintenance, severe winters can cause dramatic declines in mountain quail numbers. Multi-year droughts also negatively affect reproduction and survival. Their habitats and food sources can be covered in deep snow, forcing quail to cluster along snow-free south-facing slopes and making them more susceptible to predators.
Conservation Status and Management
To conserve remaining mountain quail populations, wildlife agencies have implemented a number of management strategies:
Habitat Protection and Improvement
Securing large interconnected blocks of mountain quail habitat is a high priority. Protection from development and recreational pressures are important in areas still supporting healthy populations. Habitat restoration projects focused on increasing diversity of native vegetation and ecotones between forest and shrublands have also shown success. Providing weed control and re-seeding with important food plants can bolster habitats.
Regulated Hunting
Adjustments to season lengths and bag limits help control hunting pressure. Complete closures have occurred in some areas to allow local recovery. Limited entry permits help maintain harvest at sustainable levels.
Predator Management
Strategic lethal control and exclusion of key predators like coyotes, raccoons and skunks may benefit mountain quail populations in small or isolated habitat blocks where predators have an outsized impact.
Translocations
Captive breeding and release programs have been attempted to re-establish or augment declining populations, with mixed success to date. Refuges like the Trinity Alps in California provide protected sites for translocation. Improving habitat prior to releases has shown better outcomes.
Winter Feeding
Providing emergency food sources during severe winters can potentially reduce mortality. Concentrating quail together at feeders increases vulnerability however, so this tactic requires careful application.
Research Needs
Many aspects of mountain quail biology and populations are poorly understood, especially compared to other gamebird species. Additional research should focus on:
– Annual survival rates and causes of mortality
– Reproductive rates and chick survival factors
– genetic connectivity between isolated groups
– migratory patterns and winter habitat use
– response to habitat management actions
– improving translocation success
Filling these knowledge gaps will allow managers to craft more effective conservation strategies customized to this declining quail species.
Summary
In summary, mountain quail appear to be relatively rare currently throughout major portions of their range. While not at immediate risk of extinction, localized declines coupled with a substantial overall decrease in population size and distribution warrant ongoing conservation attention for this species. Loss of critical montane habitat, increased predation, harsh winters, and possibly excessive hunting pressure have all likely contributed to observed reductions. Wildlife agencies have implemented regulated hunting, habitat improvement projects, predator management, winter feeding initiatives and translocations with mixed success so far. Improved understanding of mountain quail populations through additional research can help guide future management decisions. But more habitat protection and active restoration will likely be key to ensuring the long-term viability of this uncommon western quail.
Conclusion
Mountain quail are considered near threatened or vulnerable across most of their native range, with local extirpations occurring in portions of Canada, Washington and California primarily due to loss of critical habitat. Conservation measures have not yet reversed ongoing population declines generally, underscoring the need for increased habitat protection, management focused on predation pressure, emergency winter food sources, and possibly captive breeding with strategic reintroductions. Mountain quail currently inhabit around 14 million acres across the western states and Canada, but show a pattern of distributional contraction over the past several decades. More research focused on survival rates, reproduction, seasonal movements and genetics would assist future management efforts. While not globally endangered, mountain quail have become rare in many areas where they were once more common. Targeted conservation strategies tailored to the specific needs of this species will be required to stabilize populations and ensure their long-term viability. So while mountain quail remain in no immediate risk of extinction, their uncommon status and declining trends warrant continued monitoring and habitat-focused management attention across the West.
