WLF 315 Wildlife Ecology I Lab Fall 2012 Upland Game Bird Identification Goals 1. Learn how to identify upland game bird species. 2. Learn about wing feather nomenclature. 3. Learn relevant sexing and aging techniques for upland game birds. 4. Develop species summaries for each species covered in lab.
During the subsequent lab period, you will be given a quiz on upland game bird identification, age, and sex. You may use your species summaries (see below) and other notes (including sketches that you have personally drawn) for the quiz. However, no photos, pictures/drawings, field guides, or other books will be permitted during the quiz. The quiz may consist of PowerPoint slides, study skins, bird parts (e.g., wings, tails, feet), and/or mounted specimens. You may be asked to provide the order, family, subfamily, common name, scientific name, sex, age, and origin (native or introduced) of any specimen. Since you will be allowed to use your notes, spelling counts!
Directions View the PowerPoint slides and visit the stations set up in the lab. Use the wings and study mounts at the stations, the upland game bird lab identification manual (available to copy from Bill), and resources such as bird field guides to compile species summaries. Test yourself by first identifying/classifying the samples at each station and then check the tag to determine if your notes are sufficient to help you in the lab quiz.
Species Summaries Prepare summaries as flashcards, tables, bulleted lists, or whatever you prefer. You should have a summary for each of the species on the attached checklist of species. You should include features that will help you decide between similar looking species for the quiz. You do not need exhaustive treatments for each species—these are just study aids for your personal use.
Summaries should include: Common name Scientific name Order Family Subfamily (where applicable) Origin (native or introduced) Key species characters Key sex characters Key age characters
WLF 315 Wildlife Ecology I Lab Fall 2012 Upland Game Bird Checklist (taxonomy according to AOU checklist including 2010 revisions)
Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Subfamily Meleagridinae Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Sex & Age Subfamily Tetraoninae Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscures Sex & Age Sooty Grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus Sex & Age Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis Sex Greater Sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus Sex Gunnison Sage-grouse Centrocercus minimus Sex Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus Sex Greater Prairie-chicken Tympanuchus cupido Sex Lesser Prairie-chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Sex Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus Sex Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Subfamily Phasianinae Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Sex & Age Gray Partridge Perdix perdix Sex Chukar Alectoris chukar
Family Odontophoridae Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata Gambel’s Quail Callipepla gambelii Sex & Age California Quail Callipepla californica Sex & Age Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Sex & Age Montezuma Quail Cyrtonyx montezumae Sex
Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata Rock Pigeon Columba livia Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata American Woodcock Scolopax minor Sex