Upland Gamebirds
Order Galliformes
Upland Gamebirds
Order Galliformes Family Cracidea - Central & S. America Plain chachalaca
Upland Gamebirds
Order Galliformes Family Cracidea – Central & S. America Plain chachalaca Family Phasianidea – partridges, Old World quail, peafowl, chukars, pheasants
Upland Gamebirds
Family Numididae – guineafowl
Family Meleagrididae – turkeys
Family Tetraonidae – grouse & ptarmigan
Family Odontophoridae – New World quails
Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae – pigeons and doves Family Phasianidae pheasants & partridge Note that these are all introduced species in North America; there are no native phasianids in New World
Family Meleagrididae
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo
only in New World
1 species in NA, but 6 subspecies, Family Tetraonidae
grouse & ptarmigan – 19 species worldwide
5 species in Idaho
Family Odontophoridea
New World quails – 32 species in western hemisphere
6 species in North America, 1 in Idaho
The 3 North American taxa have different group characteristics Grouse Turkey Quail Cooler, mtns, warmer warm, southern northern lower elev.
The 3 North American taxa have different group characteristics Grouse Turkey Quail Cooler, mtns, warmer warm, southern northern lower elev.
Large bodies largest small
Eat leaves & variety of seedeaters, some buds plants leafy parts
Group characteristics (cont.)
Grouse Turkey Quail Feathered upper neck bare legs & legs & nostrils & head bare nostrils Group characteristics (cont.)
Grouse Turkey Quail Feathered upper neck bare legs & legs & nostrils & head bare nostrils
Live 4-6 yrs live 4-8 yrs live 1-3 yrs
Group characteristics (cont.)
Grouse Turkey Quail Feathered upper neck bare legs & legs & nostrils & head bare nostrils
Live 4-6 yrs live 4-8 yrs live 1-3 yrs
Polygamous, polygamous, monogamous, except ptarmigan but different but variable
Group characteristics (cont.)
Grouse Turkey Quail Renest at a renest at low renest low rate rate readily
(depends on species)
Group characteristics (cont.)
Grouse Turkey Quail Renest at a renest at low renest low rate rate readily
Much of the renesting rate depends on yearly conditions and on hen condition
Group characteristics (cont.)
Grouse Turkey Quail Renest at a renest at low renest low rate rate readily
Pheasianids renest at a higher rate, especially pheasants – very important in reproductive productivity of populations Quail & grouse also separate on general habitat features Vegetation Quail Grouse Tundra & alpine ptarmigan Forest dusky, sooty, ruffed, spruce Forest, brush edges bobwhite greater prairie- mountain quail, chicken California quail
Blue grouse split recently into 2 species:
Dusky Grouse - ID, UT, CO, etc (same sci. name of Dendragapus obscurus)
Sooty Grouse - Pacific coastal area – WA, OR, etc – Dendragapus fuliginosus
Quail & grouse also separate on general habitat features Vegetation Quail Grouse Tundra & alpine ptarmigan Forest dusky, sooty, ruffed, spruce Forest, brush edges bobwhite greater prairie- mountain quail, chicken California quail
general habitat features
Vegetation Quail Grouse Sagebrush 2 sage-grouse
general habitat features
Vegetation Quail Grouse Sagebrush 2 sage-grouse Grass-brush edge sharp-tailed g lesser prairie- chicken
general habitat features
Vegetation Quail Grouse Sagebrush 2 sage-grouse Grass-brush edge sharp-tailed g lesser prairie- chicken Desert scrub Gambel’s & scaled quail general habitat features
Vegetation Quail Grouse Pine-oak Montezuma q. (AZ,NM)
general habitat features
Vegetation Quail Grouse Pine-oak Montezuma q. (AZ,NM)
Rocky grass-shrub – chukar
Agriculture – pheasant, gray partridge
general habitat features
Where do turkeys fit in this listing of vegetation types?
general habitat features
Where do turkeys fit in this listing of vegetation types?
Coniferous and deciduous forests, grasslands, grassland-forest edges, desert scrub, pine- oak forests, tropical deciduous forests
Evolutionary center: Grouse & Quail
Grouse – boreal regions of North America
Evolutionary center: Grouse & Quail
Grouse – boreal regions of North America fossils from 38 million years bp
Evolutionary center: Grouse & Quail
Grouse – boreal regions of North America fossils from 38 million years bp morphology for northern regions short legs & wings large, rounded bodies
Evolutionary center: Grouse & Quail
Grouse – boreal regions of North America fossils from 38 million years bp morphology for northern regions short legs & wings large, rounded bodies pectinations feathered legs (toes in ptarmigan)
Evolutionary center: Grouse & Quail
Grouse – boreal regions of North America fossils from 38 million years bp morphology for northern regions short legs & wings large, rounded bodies pectinations feathered legs (toes in ptarmigan) behavior – snow roost Evolutionary center: Quail
Quail – tropical America
Evolutionary center: Quail
Quail – tropical America
Fossils, plus more species in S. & central America, & most primitive genera in region
Evolutionary center: Quail
Fossils, plus more species in S. & central America, & most primitive genera in region
Ancestral species are arboreal, there is successive tail-shortening in species as birds moved from trees to ground into more open habitats and to the north
Evolutionary center: Quail
Ancestral species are arboreal, there is successive tail-shortening in species as birds moved from trees to ground into more open habitats and to the north
Limited by cold weather to north. No adaptations for snow – don’t snow roost, don’t scratch through snow, no pectinations, bare legs and feet, small size
The End
Quail are cute!
Grouse are great!
Columbids are cool!
Pheasants are fine!
Turkeys are tasty!