Where do mountain quail nest?

Mountain quail, scientifically known as Oreortyx pictus, are a relatively small quail species found in the western United States. They are commonly found nesting in areas with brushy cover at mid to high elevations. Knowing where to look for mountain quail nests can help researchers study the birds and assist conservation efforts.

Quick Facts on Mountain Quail Nesting

Here are some key facts about mountain quail nesting behavior:

• Mountain quail nest on the ground in dense brush, thickets, or woodland areas.
• They prefer nesting sites with good overhead and side cover to conceal the nest.
• Typical nesting elevation ranges from 4,000 to 10,000 feet.
• Nesting usually takes place from late April through July.
• The nest is a shallow scrape lined with grasses, leaves, pine needles, and feathers.
• Average clutch size is 10-12 eggs.
• Only the female incubates the eggs for 22-23 days.
• Chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching.

Preferred Mountain Quail Nesting Habitats

Mountain quail thrive in brushy habitats at middle to high elevations in hilly or mountainous regions. Their nesting habitats typically include:

• Chaparral – This shrubland habitat dominated by shrubs like manzanita and ceanothus offers the dense overhead cover mountain quail prefer.
• Mountain brush – Transitional zones between chaparral and conifer forests with good cover from brush and small trees.
• Conifer forests – Open, park-like ponderosa pine or Douglas fir forests with brushy understories.
• Mountain meadow edges – Borders between forests or shrublands and mountain meadows.
• Clearcuts – Early seral stage clearcuts with regeneration of brush and young trees.

The unifying factor is dense horizontal cover from shrubs or brush to conceal ground nests, along with adequate foraging space.

Key Plant Species for Nesting Cover

Mountain quail make their nests under or next to plants that offer overhead concealment. Some important nesting cover shrubs and small trees include:

• Manzanita
• Ceanothus
• Chokecherry
• Serviceberry
• Mountain mahogany
• Bitterbrush
• Buckbrush
• Squaw carpet
• Snowbrush
• Willow
• Alder

These plants provide horizontal cover and protection, allowing mountain quail to build nests hidden from overhead view. The nests themselves are typically placed near the base of a shrub or brush pile.

Nest Description

Mountain quail nests are small, shallow scrapes or depressions in the ground, lined with various materials from their surroundings. Typical features include:

• Placement on the ground at the base of shrubs, brush piles, logs, or tree stumps.
• Shallow, sparsely lined depression about 2-3 inches deep.
• Lined with grasses, pine needles, leaves, bark shreds, and feathers.
• Often located near trails, roads, or openings used for foraging.
• Overhead cover from brush and foliage hides nest from aerial view.

The simple, minimalist structure of mountain quail nests reflects the species’ reliance on concealment over construction. The female blends grass and materials from the immediate vicinity to create a shallow, cryptic nest.

Clutch Size and Incubation

Here are some key facts about mountain quail clutch sizes and incubation:

• Average clutch size is 10-12 eggs.
• Egg laying occurs at a rate of about 1 egg per day.
• Only the female incubates the eggs.
• Incubation lasts 22-23 days.
• Eggs are creamy white with small brown speckles.
• The female stays on the nest most of the day during incubation.
• If the first nest fails, the female may re-nest up to 2 more times.

The moderately sized clutches and attentive incubation by the female are key to nesting success. However, re-nesting attempts can compensate if the first nest is lost.

Nesting Chronology

The mountain quail nesting season follows a fairly consistent chronology each year:

• Late April: Pair bonding and breeding begins.
• May: Peak breeding season with most nest initiation.
• June: Many females still incubating first nests.
• July: Some re-nesting occurs but most nesting finishes.
• August – September: Adults and broods gather into flocks.

Most nesting activity is concentrated from May through July, spanning the late spring and summer. Earlier or later nests are less common. The timing aligns with optimal conditions for incubating females and hatching young.

Nesting Success Rates

Nest success rates for mountain quail vary across their range, but typically fall within the following ranges:

• Apparent nest success: 35-65%
• Mayfield nest success: 30-50%

This means across study sites, researchers generally find 30-65% of mountain quail nests successfully hatch at least one egg. Nests can fail due to predation, weather, abandonment, or other factors.

Nest success varies by study area, likely due to differences in predator abundance, weather, and habitat quality. But overall, approximately one third to two thirds of mountain quail nests successfully hatch in typical populations.

Threats to Nesting Success

Some of the major threats that can reduce mountain quail nesting success include:

• Nest predation – Common nest predators include snakes, ground squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, and corvids.
• Inclement weather – Cold temperatures, heavy rain, or hail can lead to egg mortality.
• Habitat loss – Removing nesting cover through fire, grazing, or human development.
• Nest parasitism – Brown-headed cowbirds sometimes lay eggs in mountain quail nests.
• Human disturbance – Nearby human activities can cause adults to abandon nests.

Maintaining high quality nesting habitat with good cover and limiting disturbances are key to keeping nest success rates high. Predator control may also help in some cases.

Conclusion

In summary, mountain quail typically nest on the ground in brushy shrublands and forests from April through July. The female builds a simple grass-lined nest at the base of cover plants like manzanita, ceanothus, aspen, or pine saplings. Clutch sizes average around 10-12 eggs, with only the female incubating. Nest success rates often range from 30-65%. Habitat quality and predator abundance greatly influence reproductive success. Understanding the nesting ecology of mountain quail aids conservation efforts for this unique western quail.