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Home , Blue quail, Cyrtonyx, Harlequin quail, Rock partridge, Ruffed grouse, Spruce grouse

An Illustrated Guide to $1.00

UPLAND

Upland Game Birds by Richard E. McCabe

Federal Cartridge Company 900 Ehlen Drive Anoka, MN 55303

3 © 1971, 1992, 2005 Federal Cartridge Company PAGE

Contents 4 Introduction 5 -6 Ring-necked 7 Chuckar 8 Hungarian 9 Ruffed 10 Grouse 11 Greater Prairie-chicken 12 Sharp-tailed Grouse 13 Greater Sage-grouse 14 Gunnison Sage-grouse 15 Blue Grouse 16 Ptarmigan 17 18 White-tailed Ptarmigan 19 20 Scaled 21 California Quail 22 Gambel’s Quail 23 Mountain Quail 24 25 26 White-winged Dove 27 Band-tailed Pigeon 28 American 29 Wild 30 Special upland game characteristics 31

Cover photo: Ring-necked Pheasant Tom J. Ulrich

4 Introduction

Long before the time of Columbus, altered the —the sources of Native Americans were very familiar food, water, shelter and space—of with upland game birds. They mod- upland game birds. Consequently, eled dramatic dances after some of their numbers changed as well. Many the birds’ colorful courtship displays. birds thrived as never before with They mimicked the calls of some of early regrowth of vegetation follow- the birds for their own communica- ing disturbance by fire, plow and axe. tion purposes. They hunted most for Some declined by the elimination of food and some for decorative feathers. nesting cover and food. A few with They venerated some in song, mythol- highly ogy, religious ceremonies and special specialized habitats became isolated. namesake societies and clans. And several simply disappeared, When European and Asian explor- including the passenger pigeon. ers and settlers pressed into the North Other upland game birds were American interior, they were awed imported from Eurasia. This was risky by the diversity, numbers, behav- business, but some—such as the ring- iors, sounds and edibility of upland necked pheasant, Hungarian partridge game. The birds became important and chukar—actually survived and subsistence fare, a highly marketable became well-established in certain commodity and, eventually, sources of areas and habitats without negative recreation. impact on native wildlife. And they were nearly everywhere Despite the proliferation of many in , from arid des- populations (name- erts (scaled quail and white-winged ly, most prairie and woodland grouse, doves), to Arctic (willow and along with mourning doves and bob- rock ptarmigan), to coniferous forest white quail) in the wake of settlement, (), to boggy swamp- unregulated killing in all seasons soon land (woodcock), to hardwood forest took a toll. Along with such declines (), to forest edge (ruffed of habitats and numbers of other grouse), to western sagebrush coun- wildlife came alarm among the new try (sage-grouse), to Great Plains Americans about the increasing scar- grasslands (sharp-tailed grouse and city of wildlife generally. prairie-chickens), to grassy pinelands Through the actions and initiatives (bobwhite quail), to alpine meadows of concerned sportsmen emerged the (white-winged ptarmigan), and more. new discipline of wildlife science and Most spectacular in number was the management. That triggered harvest passenger pigeon, which occurred in regulations, land-management practic- migration flights of millions and mil- es more conducive to sustaining wild- lions. life and, most importantly, a sense With the influx of people from among citizens of the value of con- other continents, the pristine land- servation. People discovered that con- scape of North America was changed. servation of wildlife, such as upland Forests were cut and burned, prairies game birds, is a matter of conserving tilled, wetlands drained and grasslands and wisely managing the varied habi- pastured with livestock. So, too, were tats of those desirable species.

5 Today, human population growth, described as monogamous (a male sprawl and desires are eliminating breeds and remains with a female wildlife at a torrid pace, until the young are fledged), polyg- mostly inadvertently and unwittingly. amous (a male or female may take Some upland game birds species once more than one mate) and promiscuous abundant and secure, and despite the (birds that come together merely to advances of scientific management breed, then leave to mate with others). and conservation ethics, now are in Third, of the upland game birds decline and perhaps in jeopardy of featured in this booklet, only the survival. Prairie-chicken and sage- Gunnison sage-grouse are not hunted grouse are examples. Habitat degrada- at the present time, although some of tion and loss, not overhunting, are the the other species are hunted only in causes. some jurisdictions. Besides the sage- Today, wildlife conservation means grouse, the species currently of great- more than preserving wildlands and est concern to hunter-conservationists regulating human activity. It means are the bobwhite quail, prairie-chicken accommodating a multitude of wild- and woodcock. To help conserve these life species by managing landscape and other upland species, contact your features and conditions to meet the state or provincial wildlife agency for various species’ habitat requirements. more information, or join a local or This is an increasingly complex task, national wildlife conservation organi- but it is essential, because where the zation that puts its staff time and ener- sights, sounds and antics of upland gy into actual conservation policies game birds are absent, North America and/or on-the-ground is less magnificent. programs. * * * * * * * Fourth, expert upland bird hunters Points to ponder: agree that the biggest obstacles to First, the word “game” comes from harvest success are: not enough off- the Greek work “gamos,” meaning season clay target shooting; not know- marriage or joining, such as a special ing the quarry’s habits; not keeping kindred relationship. In modern con- the head down on the gunstock when text, it refers to worthy of shooting; not being physically fit pursuit by hunters. It does not mean enough to handle the hunt rigors; or imply that the of the ani- not staying alert and reading the land- mal is a game or something strictly scape for sign; not carrying the fire- for the amusement of the hunter. arm properly at port arms; not hunting Second, in the following species with a well-trained dog; and not using accounts, the birds’ mating habits are a shotgun that fits.

6 Ring-necked Pheasant colchicus Tom J. Ulrich

number in the Willamette Valley of he “ringneck” is one of the most in the 1880s. It has been trans- widely distributed and popular located into nearly all rural lands in Tgame birds, because of its size, abun- the and southern . dance, stealth, coloration, eruptive It has established wild populations and cackling flush, powerful flight, mainly in the corn and wheat belt and excellent taste. Also, it prefers to states but not at all in the Southeast. escape by running, so it makes great Its foods include waste grains, weed sport for hunting with dogs. Hens are seeds, acorns, , seeds, ber- not hunted except on game farms. ries, and occasionally snails and mice. Native to Asia, it is said to have been A polygamous breeder, ringnecks pro- introduced initially into California duce one brood per year, from nests of in the 1850s, but first established in 10 to 12 .

7 Chukar chukar Tom J. Ulrich

native of Eurasia, the chukar, or is accompanied by a continuous kek “rock partridge” was introduced to kek kek kek kek chuKARR chuKARR Asouthwestern Canada and the western call that inspired its common name. United States in the 1930s. It occurs It, along with ring-necked mainly in flocks or coveys of as many and bobwhite quail, is one of the “big as 40 birds, and is notorious for elud- three” upland birds used by game ing or exhausting hunters by running farm operations. It eats small grains in steep mountainous terrain. The and seeds, and is attracted to watering chukar is best hunted with well-trained ponds, tanks and guzzlers. Mainly dogs, for both finding and retrieving. monogamous, this ground nester It has a characteristic Whittu alarm produces one brood per year, from call that can give away its location. a nest of 10 to 20 eggs. Its direct flight, with rapid wing beats,

8 Hungarian Partridge Perdix perdix Alan G. Nelson

his native of Eurasia, also known of 15-25 birds in winter. Although it as the gray partridge, the “hun” prefers walking or running to flying, Twas first introduced (unsuccessfully) its flight usually begins with a loose to Virginia in 1899, then successfully covey flush, accompanied by a sharp in Oregon’s Willamette Valley a year Cut! Cut! Cut! vocalization, then later and successfully to a number rapid, whirring wing beats interrupted of other U.S. states and Canadian by gliding. This partridge consumes provinces by 1910. They particular- grasses, weeds, grain seeds and insects ly thrived on short and mixed-grass and, during summer in arid areas their prairies, and now are found mainly water source is dew. A monogamous on farmlands between the 40th and bird, the female hun produces a single 52nd parallels. The hun occurs in brood per year, from a nest of 5 to 20 family groups in summer and coveys eggs.

9 Bonasa umbellus Tom J. Ulrich

he ruffed grouse is a woodland commences with a walking, Kwit! edge dweller, found in early suc- Kwit! vocalization. Pounding wing Tcessional deciduous forest, mixed beats make the flush loud, exciting and deciduous/coniferous forest, occasionally unnerving. There are two thickets, aspen stands and retired morphs (feather colorations)—red and orchards. It is the celebrated drumming gray; gray is more common except in “pa’tridge” of , but not a the Northwest and Appalachian region. true partridge. The drumming, which Ruffed grouse eat insects, berries, can be heard half a mile away, is done nuts, seeds, leaves, leaf buds and small by rapid fanning of cupped wings amphibians. It is a promiscuous breed- by males on a log, and is primarily er. The females produce one brood a mating or territorial display. The annually, from nests of 8 to 14 eggs. “ruff” is a fairly solitary bird, and its rapid twisting and dodging flight often

10 Spruce Grouse canadesis Tom J. Ulrich

he spruce grouse, or , makes a “towel-snapping” sound with sometimes is called “fool’s hen” its wings when flying over its territo- Tfor its general fearlessness of people, ry, to signal its claim. Spruce grouse which tends to reduce many of them are tree dwellers. They eat to tasty camp meat. However, spruce buds and needles, weed and grass grouse alarmed into flight are rapid fli- seeds, berries, fern fronds, mushrooms ers, with strong, stiff wing beats and insects. They are promiscuous and short glides. A , the breeders, solitary ground nesters, and Franklin’s grouse, is found in the females have one brood of 5 to 10 northern Rocky and Cascade moun- eggs per year. These birds usually are tains. It lacks the chestnut band that silent, but males sometimes make low its cousin, the male spruce grouse, hooting sounds and may cluck gutter- possesses. The male Franklin’s grouse ally at intruders.

11 Greater Prairie-Chicken Tympanuchus cupido Tom J. Ulrich

ommonly seen on prairie grass- southeastern Texas is close to extinc- lands of the United States and tion, and the heath hen of the Atlantic Csouthern Canada during settlement coast became extinct in 1932. The in the 1800s and early 1900s, greater other “pinnated grouse” species —the prairie-chicken numbers have been lesser prairie-chicken — is federally reduced greatly, due mainly to con- listed as threatened. Famed for the version of native prairie to farmland. male’s courtship display on “booming In yesteryear, this bird, which forms grounds,” the greater prairie-chicken large, sexually segregated flocks in subsists on a diet of insects, leaves, late summer, was widely hunted for grain, rose hips, seeds and shoots. It subsistence and market. Today, only is a promiscuous breeder. Females a few states have huntable popula- produce one brood per year, from tions. Its cousins have fared worse. ground nests of 7 to 17 eggs. The Attwater’s prairie-chicken of

12 Sharp-Tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus Tom J. Ulrich

he “sharptail” is a prairie grouse with low grass, shrubs or stubble. which is often mistaken for a prai- Intensive agriculture and reforestation Trie chicken, with which it shares are encroaching on the species’ hab- a portion of its range on the central itat. It is a moderately fast flier, with and northern Great Plains. It differs stiff wing beats and glides on some- most characteristically by its longer, what drooping wings. The sharptail’s pointed tail, lack of pinnate feathers diet includes insects, rose hips, berries, on the neck, “v” feathers on the breast grains, buds and leaves. Its breeding and reddish-violet (as opposed to red- behavior is similar to that of the prairie dish-orange) air sacs. These birds are chicken but neither as dramatic nor as typically found in flocks in cutover, noisy. Females produce a single brood, burned-over and cropped areas and from nests of 5 to 17 eggs. along the edges of young forests, all

13 Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocerus urophasianus Tom J. Ulrich

he greater sage-grouse, or sage other grouse of open landscapes, sage- hen, is the largest of the North grouse prefer walking to flying. When TAmerican grouse. Its populations they do fly, they flush quickly, exhibit have declined in recent decades due rapid wing beats alternated with glides, to overgrazing and clearing of sage- but are somewhat slower brush communities. Males have a than other grouse. Sagebrush shoots, spectacular, communal courting blossoms and leaves account for more display in spring. They gather at than 70 percent of the sage-grouse daybreak on traditional “dancing diet; evergreen leaves, buds, dandeli- grounds,” called leks, They strut, fan ons, and insects also are their “spiked” tail feathers, and rapid- consumed The greater sage-grouse is ly inflate and deflate air sacs on their a promiscuous breeder, with females breasts, causing loud and resonant producing one brood per year, from bubbling and popping sounds. Like nests of 6 to 9 eggs.

14 Gunnison Sage-Grouse minimus Lance Beeny

his sage-grouse subspecies was in the species’ sagebrush habitat. This recognized officially in 2000. It bird is rarely seen away from sage- Twas split from the greater sage-grouse brush, the stems and leaves of which by virtue of its distinct range (main- are its major source of food; sagebrush ly in Gunnison Basin, Colorado, but also is its primary shelter, shade and also locally in Utah), vocalization nesting cover. It invariably opts to run (tuka-tuka-tuka versus kut kut kut for from danger, but will go to wing when the greater), less social breeding dis- pursued closely or surprised. It flushes play, smaller size and some genetic quickly and directly, with rapid wing variation. Like the greater sage-grouse, beats. The Gunnison sage-grouse is a the Gunnison sage-grouse is declining promiscuous breeder and produces one in number and range, because of live- brood per year. Nests contain 5 to 9 stock overgrazing and development eggs.

15 Blue Grouse Dendragapus obscurus Tom J. Ulrich

colorful air sac and make a hooting or he blue or “sooty” or “dusky- moaning call that can be heard several blue” grouse summers in mixed hundred yards away. At other times, Tdeciduous forests in montane foothills, its hooting in series—whoof-whoof- but moves upslope--males first--in whoof—is a give-away to the bird’s autumn, to winter in confers. Some are location. They are mainly solitary, and incautious at the approach of humans, feed along the edges of forest stands but most “thunder” rapidly away in a for conifer needles, tree buds, seeds, twisting, turning flight from danger, berries, insects and twigs. A promis- featuring stiff wing beats and glides. cuous breeder and solitary nester, the They are a sporting game bird and blue grouse female produces a single among the best table fare birds. When brood per year, from a ground nest of courting, the adult males inflate their 7 to 16 eggs.

16 lagopus Tom J. Ulrich

argest and most widely distributed deep, stuttering croaks, soft growls and of the three ptarmigan species, the the nasal cackle koBEK-koBEK-ko- Lwillow ptarmigan has distinct seasonal BEK. Although capable of lengthy movements, concentrating in dense flights, they usually fly less than 150 willow thickets in fall and winter, and yards, using rapid wing beats alter- scattering in spring to establish nesting nated with short glides. The willow territories. Lagopus is a Latin word ptarmigan is mostly a monogamous meaning -footed, and correlates breeder, and the male stays with the with the fine, hair-like feathers on the nesting female, defending its territory. feet of all three ptarmigan, enabling People and even grizzly bears have them to walk atop snow. Autumn been attacked by a territorial male. flocks often are heard before they are Females produce one brood per year, seen, featuring a low cacophony of from ground nests of 5 to 17 eggs.

17 Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Tom J. Ulrich

he mid-sized ptarmigan, the the unusual height of 800 feet above rock ptarmigan is exceptionally the ground. This bird makes low Thardy, living year-round in northern growls, a guttural croaking and a soft mountain ranges of Canada, cuck, cuck cuck sound that becomes and Greenland. Its summer much louder when there is alarm. The is darker than that of the willow or rock ptarmigan feeds on insects, moss, white-tailed species. It typically flies, seeds, grass and berries, but mainly after a strong and fast takeoff, with the leaves, buds and twigs of dwarf a flurry of wing beats followed by a willow and . It is a monogamous, glide on cupped wings. It has been colonial nester. Females produce one observed to fly directly into snow brood a year, from nests of 6 to 13 banks to sleep or avoid aerial preda- eggs. tors. It also has been seen flying at

18 White-Tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus Tom J. Ulrich

lightly smaller than rock and wil- annually, with its plumage coloration low ptarmigan, the white-tailed ranging from solid white in winter to Sptarmigan lives on alpine peaks and varying degrees of white and mottled meadows and in subalpine tundra, browns providing excellent seasonal mostly above the timberline. It is dis- camouflage. The vocalizations of this tinguished from the other two species highly social bird include soft, rapid by its white tail. It also is the only clucks—pik-pik-pik-pik-pikEEA— one of the three species to have nest- hoots and hisses. It flushes with a roar ing populations south of Canada. The of wings and is a fast flier on strong white-tailed ptarmigan’s limited expo- wing beats and short glides. A monog- sure to mammalian predators tends to amous breeder, this ptarmigan has a make it unafraid of humans, not unlike single brood per year, from a nest of 3 the spruce grouse. It molts three times to 9 eggs.

19 Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Tom J. Ulrich

lean farming and monocultur- is diverse and recently disturbed. Its al tree planting have contributed characteristic calls are a sharp, distinct Cto the declines of bobwhite through- bob WHITE and a softer aa-bob- out its range. Nevertheless, it still is WHITE. More than 85 percent of the considered by many hunters to be the bobwhite’s diet is vegetable matter, number one game bird in the eastern especially the seeds of noxious weeds. United States, because it holds well for It also eats grains, insects, and the pointing dogs and has explosive covey leaves, stems and flowers of preferred flushes, fast flight and delicate taste. plants. This bird typically is monoga- This gregarious, non-migratory bird mous (some evidence of polygamy), is found in grassy fields, and along and produces one brood per year, from the brushy edges of wood lots and ground nests of 14 to 16 eggs. pastures, particularly where cover

20 Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata Tom J. Ulrich

he scaled quail has several nick- twilight hours, remaining in shade names, including “cottontop” for during the hot and brightest times of Tits conspicuous white-edged crest. It day. Its diet includes more (about 30 also is called “blue quail” because percent) food (insects) than do of its bluish-gray breast and mantle any of the other quail species; about feathers. And it has been dubbed “blue half of the vegetable matter is noxious racer” because of its strong tendency weed seeds. It makes a number of soft to run from threats. When forced to clucking sounds, but its calls are a rau- fly, it rises and flies quickly, but only cous QUEESH and loud pee-KO and several hundred feet before landing chek-CHURR. A monogamous breed- and running again to gain distance er, the scale quail produces one brood and security cover. It is seen mainly at per year. Its nests contain 9 to 16 eggs.

21 California Quail Callipepla californicus Brian E. Small

his quail shares the topknot feature Unlike other quail, the California quail with the Gambel’s quail, but is roosts in trees and can be found in Tdistinguished by its pale forehead and coveys of 100 or more. It eats mainly scaled underparts. The California (or seeds and leaves, but some insects as valley) quail’s original range was the well. It holds well for pointing dogs southwestern United States, but it has and is more inclined to fly than run been introduced successfully to other when approached. It has a variety of western states and British Columbia. calls, the most common of which are Its preferred habitats are foothills and pu-pway-HU-pop and kee-ka-Oo. A valleys with grasses, moist chaparral polygamous breeder, the California and scattered trees. Irrigated areas quail produces one brood per year, are very attractive to the quail, as from a nest of 12 to 16 eggs. are suburban lawns and golf courses.

22 Gambel’s Quail Callipepla gambelii Tom J. Ulrich

he Gambel’s quail topknot is in large coveys in autumn and winter, shaped like a comma. This bird they are nearly impossible to approach Tis slightly smaller than the California undetected without one of their num- quail, which it resembles and with ber giving the alarm. The primary which it occasionally interbreeds. The calls are kwoit or the louder, harsher Gambel’s quail occurs in semi-arid Yah-KAY-ja-ja. They have a powerful desert country, and is the most hunt- take-off, but are not particularly swift ed game bird in Arizona and part of fliers. More than 90 percent of the New Mexico, Nevada and California. food they eat is vegetable matter, most Unlike its California cousin, Gambel’s of which is seeds. They are monog- quail prefer to run rather than fly from amous breeders, raising one or two approaching danger. Because they broods per year, from a nest of 9 to 14 are highly gregarious and are found eggs.

23 Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus Brian E. Small

he mountain quail is largest, most on cupped wings for short distances. distinctive and most reluctant to fly More than 95 percent of the mountain Tof the quail species. It has two long, quail’s diet is vegetable matter, includ- straight head plumes and seven or ing weed seeds, grasses, small nuts eight white stripes along its rust- and waste grains. Its principal calls are colored flanks. It usually is found in a loud KWEE-ark, which can be heard early regrowth clearings on brushy more than half a mile away, and a soft hills or mountainsides, and in family and rapid ket-kut-ket-kut. This bird is groups of less than 20. It is a very fast monogamous, and pairs produce one runner, moving at 10 to 12 miles per brood per year. Its nests contain 6 to hour even on steep slopes and in thick 15 eggs. cover. When it flies, it speeds away

24 Montezuma Quail Cyrtonyx montezumae Brian E. Small

erhaps best known as Mearn’s or take-off, accompanied by a vocal harlequin quail, this bird is found chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk. It flies rapidly, Pmainly in grassy openings of hilly with stiff wing beats alternating with or mountainous oak/juniper and oak/ short glides. It eats some insects, but pine forests. Overgrazing has seriously mainly grass and weed seeds, juniper reduced the bird’s range in the U.S. fruit, pine and oak nuts, leaves, and Southwest. Short and stubby, with bulbs. Its call includes a melancholy a clownish face, this quail typically whistle vwirrrrr, a piping Kwerp, a occurs in pairs or family groups. Its louder kwee Kweep, and a tremu- coloration makes it well camouflaged. lous, descending peww, followed by A relatively reluctant flier, it usually up to nine notes. Monogamous, the is flushed unexpectedly at close range. Montezuma quail has one brood per Its wings make a popping sound at year, from nests of 6 to 14 eggs.

25 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Tom J. Ulrich

he mourning dove—so named the bank, and where there are weed because of its mournful call (oo seeds or grains, which includes every- TAAH woo cooah)—is the most abun- where from shopping malls to suburbs dant and widespread of native, North to farms. They usually occur as pairs American game birds. More mourn- or in small groups of less than a dozen. ing doves are harvested annually (in Some migrate. They are very fast fli- excess of 30 million) than all other ers, often darting or zig-zagging , and upland game birds combined. This their wings produce a whistling sound. dove (called “turtle dove” in some They are monogamous breeders, pro- localities) can be found almost any- ducing five or six broods per year in where in close proximity to loafing the South and fewer farther north, with trees, dusting areas on the ground, 2 eggs per flimsy nest. standing water with clear spots along

26 White-Winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Tom J. Ulrich

his dove, similar to the mourning vegetable matter, including weed dove, but larger and with distinc- seeds, but particularly grain. Large Ttive white patches on the upper wings, flocks can do considerable damage occurs mainly in arid desert regions to unharvested grain crops. A fast of Mexico, but can be found in por- flier, the whitewing does not exhibit tions of Florida, Texas, Arizona, New the erratic flight of mourning doves, Mexico and California. Dependent on unless shot at or chased. Its most standing water, the “whitewing” may frequent call is whhooo-whoo-whoo- have to make extensive flights in early whoooo, much like the barred ’s morning and near dusk to water sourc- hoot, but lower and softer. A monoga- es during periods of drought. They mous breeder, it produces two or three tend to use the same flight broods per year, from aerial nests with paths despite repeated disturbance. 2 eggs. They feed on almost 100 percent of

27 Band-Tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata Brian E. Small

he band-tailed pigeon is the only and dove species, this bird can be native wild pigeon in the United found in flocks of hundreds and TStates. It is found in the oak/conifer occasionally thousands during winter. stands, where it occurs typically Its usual calls are repetitive hu-whoo, in small groups perched on open coo-coo or hoppa-hoo, with variations branches at treetop level. It also is during mating season. The bandtail is observed at water holes, mineral a swift and direct flier. Its diet consists licks and foraging on the ground. of berries, seeds, grains, insects, nuts, Characteristic of the “bandtail” is a fruit and peas. It is a monogamous wide, gray, terminal band across the breeder, raising two or three broods tail and a conspicuous narrow white per year, with tree nests containing band on the nape of the neck. Social, 1 or 2 eggs. but less gregarious than other pigeon

28 Scolopax minor Tom J. Ulrich

his shorebird is found mainly then a spiral down accompanied by a in the eastern United States and chirping call. The performance may be Teastern Canada. It winters in the Gulf repeated for an hour or more. When states. Primarily nocturnal, woodcock flushed in open areas, “timberdoodles” frequent pastured bottomlands and usually skitter away low to the ground. swampy areas with limited understory, Flushed from dense woodlots, they such as alder and poplar thickets, for typically tower to treetops before lev- feeding, and upland stands of aspen eling off. Its long bill with flexible tip and birch for loafing. The male’s is used to probe for earthworms and courtship ritual involves nasal “peents” grubs; ants and larvae also are issued from a fairly open “singing eaten. The polygamous woodcock pro- ground,” followed by a minute-long, duces a single brood annually, from a twittering flight to 200 or 300 feet, nest of 4 eggs.

29 Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Tom J. Ulrich

here are five wild turkey subspe- behavior differ substantially among cies in North America—Eastern, the subspecies, but all are wary, fast TMerriam’s, Osceola or Florida, Rio runners and fast fliers. They roost in Grande and Gould’s. trees, but otherwise are ground dwell- The continent’s largest native game ers. Young turkeys mainly eat insects; bird, it was common in many areas adults consume mainly during settlement periods, but was vegetable matter. Adult males are decimated by unregulated hunting known for their gobble, which can be and landscape alterations. It declined heard up to a mile, and for strutting to fewer than 50,000 in just several courtship displays. Female vocaliza- states by the early 1900s. Through tions include yelps, cuts, purrs and public and private conservation efforts, clucks. It is a polygamous breeder, it presently exceeds 5 million in 49 producing a single brood annually, states. Size, food habits, habitat and from a nest of 8 to 20 eggs.

30 Special upland game bird characteristics

Average Weight Wing Sexes Top Species M / F Length* Span* Similar Speed** Migratory

Pheasant 3 lb / 2.2 lb 35 31 No 40r No Chukar 1.3 lb / 1.1 lb 14.5 17.5 Yes 40-45e *** Hungarian Partridge 14 oz / 13 oz 12.5 16 No 45r No Northern Bobwhite 6.0 oz / 5.21 oz 9.5 14 No 45-45r No California Quail 6.5 oz / 6 oz 10.5 14.5 No 35-40r No Gambels Quail 6.0 oz / 5.2 oz 11 14.5 No 35-40r No Scaled Quail 6.2 oz / 5.5 oz 9 13 Yes 30-35e No Mountain Quail 8.2 oz / 7.0 oz 11 15.5 Yes 35-40r No Montezuma Quail 6.2 oz / 5.4 oz 8.5 13 No 45-50r No Spruce Grouse 1.2 lb / 15 oz 16 22 No 30r Yes Blue Grouse 2.3 lb / 1.8 lb 20 26 No 30e *** Ruffed Grouse 1.3 lb / 1.1 lb 17 22 Yes 45r No Sharp-Tailed Grouse 1.9 lb / 1.7 lb 18 25 Yes 35-40r No Greater Sage-Grouse 6.3 lb / 3.3 lb 28 38 No 25e No Gunnison Sage-Grouse 4.6 lb / 2.4 lb 22 30 No 25e No Greater Prairie-Chicken 1.8 lb / 1.5 lb 16 26 Yes 30-35r Some White-Tailed Ptarmigan 13 oz / 12 oz 12.5 20 Yes 40r No Willow Ptarmigan 1.2 lb / 1 lb 15 23 No 40r Some Rock Ptarmigan 18 oz / 1.6 oz 14 22 No 40r No Wild Turkey 16.2 lb / 9.2 lb 46 55 No 50r No Mourning Dove 4.2 oz / 4 oz 12 18 Yes 60r Some White-Winged Dove 5.5 oz / 5 oz 11.5 19 Yes 55r Yes Band-Tailed Pigeon 12 oz / 11 oz 15 23 Yes 45-50r Yes American Woodcock 6 oz / 7 oz 10.5 18 Yes 35e Yes

* In inches, for male. ** r=recorded; e=estimated; not wind-aided; rarely achieved. *** Altitudinal movement. 0416