View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in Ornithology Papers in the Biological Sciences 1970 A Summary of Intergeneric New World Quail Hybrids, and a New Intergeneric Hybrid Combination Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciornithology Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "A Summary of Intergeneric New World Quail Hybrids, and a New Intergeneric Hybrid Combination" (1970). Papers in Ornithology. 77. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciornithology/77 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in Ornithology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Johnsgard in CONDOR (January 1970) 72(1). Copyright 1970, University of California and Cooper Ornithological Society. Used by permission. A SUMMARY OF INTERGENERIC NEW WORLD QUAIL HYBRIDS, AND A NEW INTERGENERIC HYBRID COMBINATION PAUL A. JOHNSGARD Department of Zoology University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 68505 The exceedingly close affinities of the quail CALLIPEPLA x LOPHORTYX and have genera Colinus, Callipepla, Lophortyx The range of the Scaled Quail overlaps fairly been for some time and have re- recognized extensively with that of the Gambel Quail (L. been additional cently emphasized by morpho- gambelii), primarily in New Mexico (Campbell Hudson et al. bio- logical (Holman 1961; 1966), and Lee 1953; Ligon 1961), but also in western chemical and (Sibley 1960), pterylographic Texas along the Rio Grande (Texas Game, evidence. Holman has (Ohmart 1967) Indeed, Fish, and Oyster Commission 1949), south- that these three taxa best be suggested might eastern Arizona (Phillips et al. 1964), and ad- as et al. regarded subgenera. Phillips (1964) jacent Mexico (Leopold 1959). Introductions with Cal- pragmatically merged Lophortyx of the Scaled Quail into central Washington lipepla; and Delacour (1961-1962) synony- have also resulted in a small amount of con- mized not but also only Lophortyx, Oreortyx tact with the California Quail (L. californicus), and with retained Philortyx, Callipepla, yet and two hybrid specimens have been reported Colinus as a Ohmart separate genus. Although from that area (Jewett et al. 1953). Shore-baily the of (1967) questioned validity generically (1912, 1913, 1914, 1917) bred and reared a and he separating Lophortyx Callipepla, sug- number of such hybrids, and reported them to that new taxonomic gested any reorganization be fertile. There is apparently no natural con- should also include consideration of such re- tact between the Scaled Quail and the Douglas lated as Colinus. genera Quail (L. douglasii) in northern Mexico, but One useful source of evidence for judging several examples (all apparently sterile) of such distinction is the occurrence possible generic a hybrid combination have been obtained in of both and ob- naturally occurring artificially captivity (Banks and Walker 1964). tained and their relative hybrids, fertility. Wild hybrids between the Scaled Quail and before taxonomic Thus, advocating any Gambel Quail have been known to occur for the New World changes among quail genera, some time; apparently the earliest published a review of recorded intergeneric hybrids record is that of Bailey (1928), who described would seem to be in order. a male hybrid shot from a covey of Gambel 1916 in Grant New CALLIPEPLA x COLINUS Quail during County, Mexico. Hachisuka (1928) also illustrated this Natural sympatry between the Bobwhite (Co- specimen. More recently Hubbard (1966) de- linus virginianus) and the Scaled Quail (Cal- scribed an apparent back-cross to Gambel lipepla squamata) exists across a fairly broad Quail, taken in Grant County in 1930. Phillips zone extending from northern Mexico through et al. (1964) reported three hybrid specimens west-central Texas (McCabe 1954), the Okla- from different localities in southeastern Arizona homa panhandle (Schemnitz 1964; Sutton and Lowe (1964) mentioned wild hybrids from 1967), possibly extreme southwestern Kansas one of the same areas. Captive hybrids have (Johnston 1964), and southeastern Colorado been reported by Plath (1953) and have also (Hoffman 1965; Bailey and Niedrach 1965). been obtained by the author (male Scaled x Wild hybrids have been reported in Texas female Gambel). According to J. S. Ligon, such from Concho County (McCabe 1954), Stone- female hybrids lay only sterile eggs (Sibley wall County (Sutton 1963), and Motley County 1961), but eggs that developed nearly to hatch- (Schemnitz 1964). Probable hybrids have also ing (when the incubator failed) have been pro- been seen in Oklahoma (Sutton 1967). Captive duced by a hybrid pair at the Arizona-Sonora hybrids have also been produced on a variety Desert Museum (L. W. Walker, pers. comm.). of occasions (Gray 1958). Although the hybrid x females are known to produce eggs, attempted LOPHORTYX OREORTYX inter se matings and back-cross matings with The area of geographic overlap between the Bobwhites have not yet proven successful Mountain Quail (0. picta) and the California (Sutton 1963). Quail is considerable and includes much of [85] The Condor, 72:85-88, 1970 Johnsgard in CONDOR (January 1970) 72(1). Copyright 1970, University of California and Cooper Ornithological Society. Used by permission. 86 PAUL A. JOHNSGARD California, Oregon, and western Washington (Grinnell and Miller 1944; Jewett et al. 1953; :x:i~aii S-Z The 2U, Masson and Mace 1962). earliest record ..Xii. dii$ of a hybrid between these species is that of Wh'H-', .41: . .... Xii-ii;;iiJ' h?:;:r:ri:.:NXi~J Peck (1911), who described a specimen taken zmtrx in 1911 in Harney County, Oregon. Hachisuka ... .... (1928) provided an illustration of this hybrid 9~i~si~'r~sb~~i~ii~i~ii~i..........;~~~iilJ~r~ specimen. Peterle (1951) published a repro- duction of a painting by L. A. Fuertes of a presumably wild hybrid in the collection of II L. M. Loomis, the skin of which is no longer .... extant. .. .. There do not to be be- hybrids . appear any . .:- - ---- ---- tween Oreortyx and Lophortyx produced in ...............:..a captivity, nor are there any naturally occurring or captive-bred hybrids known that involve the Mountain Quail and Callipepla or Colinus. With the possible exception of the introduced Bobwhite in northern Oregon (Masson and FIGURE 1. Pair of F1 Bobwhite X Gambel Quail Mace 1962), the current range of the Mountain hybrids, at 140 days of age. Quail would preclude any natural hybridiza- tion with these species. Interestingly, Holman (1961) suggests that Oreortyx may actually be Gambel Quail was established. The birds were more closely related to Callipepla than to not allowed visual contact with others of their Lophortyx, which points out the fallacy of dis- species, but auditory communication was pos- tinguishing genera primarily on the basis of sible. They were placed on a 17-hr photoperiod crest condition. and were minimally disturbed, although this was a few feet from office LOPHORTYX x COLINUS pair kept only my desk. The female began to produce eggs in Natural sympatry between these two genera is early February, and while several were used essentially non-existent, although there may be for other purposes, a total of 17 eggs were some overlapping of marginal ranges of the artificially incubated. All of them proved to Bobwhite and the Gambel Quail in extreme be fertile, but of the first group of five eggs western Texas near El Paso (Peterson 1960). only a single individual hatched, the other Additionally, there is some potential contact four having died just prior to pipping. This between the nearly extinct Masked Bobwhite individual also died two days later, perhaps (C. v. ridgwayi) and the Gambel Quail or as a result of faulty incubation procedures. Douglas Quail in western Mexico (Leopold The 12 remaining eggs all hatched between 30 1959). Furthermore, introduction of the Bob- March and 16 April and resulted in apparently white into Washington, Oregon, and Idaho has healthy and normal chicks. Various accidents resulted in some probable contact with the and cannibalism gradually reduced this num- California Quail. Finally, introduction of the ber, but two individuals were ultimately reared Bobwhite and the California Quail into Utah to their first winter plumage (figure 1). also produced a relatively short-lived sympatry between them and resulted in the only known TAXONOMIC IMPLICATIONS naturally occurring intergeneric hybridization The primary criteria for the genera Lophortyx, between Colinus and Lophortyx. Aiken (1930) Callipepla, and Colinus have been variations described three probable Bobwhite x Califor- in the number of rectrices (14 in Callipepla, nia Quail hybrids taken in 1895 near Salt Lake 12 in the others), the degree of sexual dimor- City. Compton (1932) likewise described a phism, and the condition of the crest (Ridgway male hybrid that apparently resulted from and Friedmann 1946). The first of these criteria keeping a female Bobwhite in a pen with is weakened by the fact that some individuals California Quail. of at least two species of Lophortyx may have As part of a general study on the behavior as many as 14 rectrices (Clark 1898; Ohmart and relationships