Quail & Pheasants | USU Extension Wildlife Rangeland Habitat Lab

USU Extension Rangeland-Wildlife Habitat Lab

Wildlife habitat on rangelands is one of the most pressing conservation issues in western North America. Nearly all western upland gamebird species rely on rangeland habitats. USU Extension's Rangeland-Wildlife Habitat Lab focuses on providing the best available scientific information concerning the assessment of management and conservation practices for these species, especially our native grouse species.

a northern bobwhite quail walking on dirt

A scaled quail standing on grass

Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

Has the largest range of all native quail, most of the Eastern US
Bobwhite quail roost in a circle with their heads facing out
Natural habitat ranges from pine forests to grasslands to areas around agricultural fields

Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)

Found in the American Southwest and into Texas and Mexico
Natural habitat is desert areas with sparse grasslands with few shrubs and cacti

a male montezuma / mearns qual walking on dirt and rocks next to a cactus

Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae)

Found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, but mainly found in Mexico
Natural habitat is pine-oak forests with perennial grasses
Also known as the Mearns Quail

two mountain quail running across sand, dirt, and rocks

Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)

Found in high mountain areas of the west coast, Idaho, and into Mexico
Natural habitat ranges from desert scrub to mixed or coniferous woodlands
Largest Quail in North America

a male Gambels quail standing on top of a rock

Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

Found in Utah
Found in deserts across the Southwest US
Natural habitat is hot deserts below an elevation of 5,500 feet
Would rather run from danger than fly away

A male and female California quail walking through green grass

California Quail (Callipepla californica)

Found in Utah
Found in the West coast states, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and into Mexico
The head plume is made of 6 feathers not just 1

a male ring necked pheasant walking through a field with grass

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Found in Utah
Found across the northern half of the continental US
Introduced to North America from Asia
Prefer to glide than actively fly