Mearns Quail - Quail Hunting - Upland Hunting
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Description
Mearn's quail, also known as Montezuma quail, has a small round head with a slightly rounded crest. These game birds are of the same size as other New Mexico quail, i.e., 8 – 9.5 inches. These birds have a round body that has a very short tail. The coloration of adult Mearn's quail is a heterogeneous mixture of white, black, and brown to provide camouflage. Males have a bold black and white face pattern, a dark chest with numerous small spots, black chin and streaks & bars across its back. On the other hand, females are usually brown with a fuzzy head pattern like that of male quails. Montezuma quails measure 20 – 23 cm in length, weigh 122 to 230g and have a wingspan of 41 to 43 cm.
Habitat
These game birds occupy areas with dense grass cover, especially in mountainous parts of southwestern and south-central New Mexico. These quails can also be found in either open oak or pine-oak woodland, coniferous forests, and open grassy hills that have scattered trees. Even though these birds have bold colors, they are hard to see because they use grass to hide. Unlike other quails, Mearn's quails prefer in dense cover instead of running or flying. When you approach conveys or pairs of Montezuma quails, they explode in flight vibrating their wings as they whir away to the hillsides.
Feeding habits
Unlike other quails that feed on forbs and seeds, Mearn's quail prefer nut sedges, underground bulbs, and tubers of wood sorrel. However, at times these birds feed on insects, grass, and forb seeds. You can identify their feeding areas because they leave cone-shaped excavations and small holes as they scratch looking for bulbs or tubers. Sometimes Mearn's quail feed on acorns, especially when there is a scarcity of food/drought.
Nesting
Female quails build the nest on the ground under a shrub or in tall grass for protection. A shallow depression is lined with grass, twigs, and leaves. The male defends the nesting territory as the female lays the eggs and builds the nest.
Eggs
Females lay 10 – 12 white eggs, although sometimes the number can vary from 8 to 14. Mearn's quail has a more extended incubation period, unlike other quails, i.e., 25 to 26 days. The female mainly does incubation. After hatching, the young quails leave the nest looking for water and food. Both parents accompany the young quails even though the young feed on their own. The young make short flights after ten days, and in 10 to 11 weeks, they reach adult size.
