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MOCTEZUMA QUAIL
BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae)
KINGDOM: ANIMLIA
PHYLUM: CHORDATA
SUBPHYLUM: VERTEBRATA
CLASS: BIRDS
ORDER: GALLIFORMES
FAMILY: ODONTOPHORIDAE
GENUS: Cyrtonyx
SPECIES: montezumae
THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL IS A MEDIUM SIZE BIRD. IT MEASURES FROM 205 TO 230 mm LONG AND WEIGHS FROM 176 TO 195 g.
THE SPECIES PRESENT A NOTICEABLE SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE COLOR OF THE PLUMAGE. THEY DISPLAY A FACE WITH A BLACK AND WHITE PATTERN AND A AN ANTE COLOR CREST. THE FEATHERS ON THE BACK ARE REDDISH BROWN WITH THIN WHITE STRIPES, DARK BROWN FLANKS WITH WHITE SPOTS. THE FEATHERS ON THE CHEST AND INTERIOR COVERS OF THE TAIL ARE DARK BROWN. THE FEMALE DISPLAYS A DARK BROWN COLORATION IN THE BACK AND A PINKISH BROWN IN THE CHEST, WITH FINE STRIPES AND BARS IN THE FLANKS AND THE FACIAL PATTERN IS LESS DEFINED THAN IN THE MALES (GEER, 2002)
THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL CAN BE FOUND PRINCIPALLY IN MEXICO ACROSS THE SIERRA MADRE, EVEN WHEN ITS DISTRIBUTION RANGE COVERS FROM SOUTH WEST UNITED STATES (ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO) TO SOUTH MEXICO, IN ALTITUDES THAT VARY FROM 1000 TO 3000m (GREER, 2002)
THE TYPICAL HABITATS OF THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL ARE PASTURES WITH ENCINE OR FORESTS WITH ENCINE PINES. THESE VEGETAL COMMUNITIES CORRESPOND WITH THE ALTITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES, ALTHOUGH ALSO POPULATIONS IN TASCATE-PIÑON FORESTS, MEZQUITALES AND MIXED CONIFEROUS FORESTS HAVE BEEN SEEN. THIS SPECIES IS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY OF GRASS OF UP TO 30 cm HIGH (BROWN, 1989; RUSSELL Y MONSON, 1998; STROMBERG, 2000).
THE MOCTEZUMA QUAILS ARE STRICTLY FODDER. THEIR FEEDING VARIES ACCORDING TO THE SEASON, CONSUMING ROOTS, LEGUMINOUS SEEDS AND PULSES, ACORNS AND INSECTS. DURING THE WINTERS, THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF FOOD IS MADE OF CLOVERS FROM THE Oxalis GENUS.
THERE HAS BEEN FOUND THAT WHEAT (Triticum aestivum), OATS (Avena sativa) AND QUELITE (Chenopodium sp) MAKE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THEIR DIET (HERNANDEZ-TELLEZ et al, 2004)
NESTING OCCURS FROM THE LAST DAYS OF JUNE TO AUGUST, NEVERTHELESS THERE HAVE BEEN FOUND RECENTLY NESTED CHICKS IN SEPTEMBER. THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL NESTS OVER GROUNDS WITH AN APPROPIATE VEGETAL COVER. BOTH MALES AND FEMALES PARTICIPATE IN THE INCUBATION OF THE EGGS DURING THE FIRST DAYS.
THE AVERAGE SIZE OF THE NESTING IS OF 10 EGGS AND THE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IS RELATED TO THE QUANTITY OF PRECIPITATION IN THE SUMMER.
MOCTEZUMA QUAILS ARE DEPREDATED BY BIRDS, LIKE THE COOPER HAWK (Accipiter cooperii), THE SPARROWHAWK GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis) AND THE CRAWLING SPARROWHAWK (Circus cyaneus). THEY CAN ALSO BE PREYS OF COYOTES (Canis latrans) AND WHEN A NEST IS FOUND, THE EGGS MAY BE CONSUMED BY DIVERSE CARNIVOROUS, LIKE SKUNKS (Mephitis) OR BY A GREAT VARIETY OF SNAKES.
THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL IS CONSIDERED A HUNTING BIRD IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO AND NORTH MEXICO. ITS POPULARITY HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST TWO DECADES.
BIOLOGICAL EVENTS OF THE MOCTEZUMA QUAIL
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EVENT
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J
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F
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M
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A
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M
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J
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J
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A
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S
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O
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N
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D
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REPRODUCTION O COURTSHIP
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X
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X
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X
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X
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NESTING
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X
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X
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X
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X
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ECLOSIÓN
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X
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X
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X
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HUNTING SEASON
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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SPECIES DATA
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COMMON NAME:
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MOCTEZUMA QUAIL
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SCIENTIFIC NAME:
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Cyrtonyx montezumae
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TYPE OF GAIN:
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CINEGETIC
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TYPE OF MARKING:
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HUNTING LICENSE
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