Quail species in Arizona, including the Gambel’s Quail and Scaled Quail, have developed dietary habits to thrive in the state’s diverse and often arid environments. Understanding their diet is important for appreciating their ecological role and ability to persist across various habitats, from desert scrublands to grasslands. Their feeding strategies are linked to resource availability and Arizona’s unique environmental conditions.
Key Dietary Components
Quail in Arizona primarily consume plant matter, especially seeds. Gambel’s Quail, for instance, derive about 90% of their diet from plants, including seeds from grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees. Examples include seeds from mesquite, catclaw, palo verde, sunflower, and spurge. Scaled Quail also rely heavily on seeds, favoring those from forbs and woody plants like mesquite, acacia, and hackberry, and consume more grass seeds than some other quail species.
Insects serve as an important protein source, especially for young chicks and during breeding. Newly hatched quail chicks initially feed almost exclusively on insects like beetles, worms, moth caterpillars, and grasshoppers, gradually transitioning to a plant-based diet as they mature. Adults also consume insects, such as ants for Gambel’s Quail. Insects provide moisture for adults, especially during warmer months.
Green vegetation, including leaves, shoots, and forbs, is another diet component, especially when seeds are scarce or for hydration. This green forage is important in spring for Gambel’s Quail, supporting reproduction. Fruits and berries from native cacti (prickly pear, cholla, saguaro) and other plants (hackberry, mistletoe) are also consumed, providing nutrients and moisture.
Quail obtain water by direct drinking or from the moisture in their food. They can survive without open water by consuming succulent plants and insects, but many species, including Gambel’s and Scaled Quail, are often found within a half-mile of water sources. Water availability influences food selection, leading to higher reliance on succulent foods during hot, dry periods.
Seasonal and Environmental Adaptations
Arizona quail diets change throughout the year, reflecting food resource availability in their desert and grassland environments. In spring and early summer, as plants green and insect populations boom, quail diets incorporate more fresh vegetation and insects. These are essential for breeding success and chick development. Gambel’s Quail rely on adequate late winter rains to produce green forage for nesting.
As summer progresses into fall and winter, quail increasingly depend on seeds and dried plant matter. Seeds from annual and perennial forbs become prominent in their diet during drier months. This seasonal shift demonstrates their adaptability, as they utilize a wide range of plant materials depending on abundance.
Rainfall and overall environmental conditions exert a strong influence on food availability and, consequently, on quail diets and populations. Years with sufficient and well-timed rainfall lead to an abundance of flowering annuals and increased succulent fruits, improving food conditions for quail. Conversely, drought conditions can severely limit the availability of green vegetation and insects, impacting breeding activities and chick survival. Quail populations fluctuate in response to these wet and dry cycles, with reduced nesting attempts and lower chick survival during prolonged droughts.
Quail foraging behavior adapts to their Arizona habitats. Gambel’s Quail, found in brushy desert areas, forage on the ground, accessing shrubs and low trees for berries and leaves. Scaled Quail, preferring grasslands with scattered shrubs, also forage on the ground, often in coveys moving in a general direction. These birds tend to run rather than fly when disturbed, a behavior suited to their open, ground-level foraging.