WHAT’S IN A NAME
Mountain Quail– Oreortyx pictus
Only types in the Genus Oreortyx. (L. Ortyx “quail”, Pingo pictus “painted”)
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Mountain Quail is a little ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail household, and the only types in its genus. Boldly patterned quail with tones of abundant chestnut and blue-gray emphasized by white highlights. Look specifically for the long, straight black plume atop the head and thick white bars on the sides, which assist separate this types from California Quail. Female is a little drabber than male.
DISTRIBUTION & & OCCURRENCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
The Mountain Quail is a relatively typical yearround local of the Sierra Nevada in the lower and upper montane biotic zones. It populates mountainous chaparral west of the Rocky Mountains, from British Columbia in Canada to Baja Peninsula, Mexico. It can be discovered approximately 3,000 m (9,800 feet) above water level. It is a non-migratory types; nevertheless some populations might be altitudinal migrants in some range of mountains.
The mountain quail eats seeds, fruits, bugs and green plants. It chooses environments with thick shrubs, such as ceanothus, manzanita and chaparral. It nests on the ground, generally under a shrub or log. The female lays 9 to 10 eggs, which are nurtured by both moms and dads for about 24 days.
The chicks are precocial and leave the nest not long after hatching. They follow their moms and dads and discover to discover food and prevent predators. The mountain quail has some fascinating habits, such as bring its chicks in its mouth to get away threat, and forming big coveys of approximately 20 birds in winter season.
CONSERVATION STATUS —IUCN Red List Category
The Mountain Quail is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN
Redlist Classification Justification: This types has a very big variety, the population pattern seems decreasing a little (decrease not thought to be adequately fast to approach the limits for Vulnerable under the population pattern requirement), and the population size is huge. For these factors the types is assessed as Least Concern. (DataZone MOQU Link)
PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP — Dry Brush Filter
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