Chapter 12

1. Chapter 12 Game Birds

2. Game Birds of N. America • Include pigeons, quails, partridges, pheasants, grouse, turkeys • Most are gallinaceous: have heavy bodies, short powerful wings, and nest on ground • Diets are mostly seeds, plant shoots, supplemented with insects • Have larger clutches (eggs and young) than most other birds to maintain population

3. Game Birds of N. America (Cont.) • Many are fast runners, and prefer running to flying • Prey to small/medium-sized predators (foxes, coyotes, badgers, skunks) • Heavy snow followed by surface crusting one of their greatest threats: become trapped beneath snow, starve to death

4. Relative Sizes andShapes of Game Birds

5. Breeding Habits ofGallinaceous Birds • Some are polygamous: • Males and females mate with others • Some are polygynous: • Males only mate with several females • Some are monogamous: • Mate for life • Pigeons are an example

6. Quails • Family includes quails, partridges, and pheasants • Terms “quail” and “partridge” also common names for related groups of birds • Birds may be called quail in one region and partridge in another • Text considers “quail” to be smallest gallinaceous game bird

7. Examples of Quails • California Quail (Lophortyx californicus) • Range: along Pacific coast from Canada to Mexico, and inland to southern IA and northern NV; prefers brushy open areas located in foothills, canyons, deserts, and suburbs • Gather in coveys (large groups) • State bird of CA

8. Examples of Quails (Cont.) • Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) • Range: native to eastern U.S. and Gulf Coast of Mexico, but has been introduced into northwestern U.S. successfully • Male has distinctive whistle, sounds like “bob-white” • Attracted to farms, eats weed seeds, insects, kernels of grain in stubble fields

9. Partridges • Medium-sized game birds • Originally from Europe • Band together in coveys of family units; males leave to join other coveys to breed • Challenging for hunters—difficult to approach, fast

10. Partridges (Cont.) • Most vulnerable during nesting period and until chicks can fly • Predators include: hawks, falcons, eagles

11. Examples of Partridges • Gray or Hungarian Partridge (Perdix perdix) • Range: extends across prairie region of southern Canada and northern border states of U.S. • Prefers open farmland, grainfields • Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) • Not native—introduced from Europe and Asia • Adapted to slopes; thrives in steep canyon habitats • Prolific birds—females produce large clutches • Frequently hunted; also well-adapted to game farm production

12. Pheasants • Distinguished by long tails and bright, colorful plumage • Not native to N. America—introduced from Asia • Fast runners • Escape from danger by running/hiding, but will burst into flight if danger is imminent

13. Pheasants (Cont.) • Polygynous • Unlike quails and partridges, usually scatter after raising broods and live alone

14. Example of Pheasant • Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) • Male distinguished by iridescent greenish-black head, bright red facial coloring, and white ring around neck • Range: much of Pacific Northwest, grain-producing regions of Midwest and southern Canada, and northeastern U.S.

15. Grouse • Among largest of the game birds, second only to turkey • Legs and feet of most species protected by feathers, enabling them to live in cold, northern climates • Nostrils protected by feathers • Adapted to variety of habitats, including forested areas, tundra, plains

16. Grouse (Cont.) • Range: over N. America, from arctic regions to Mexico, but restricted on northern and southern borders by coniferous forests • Most spend majority of time on the ground; seek trees when forced to fly away from danger

17. Grouse (Cont.) • Young grouse eat larger amounts of insects than adults; require protein for rapid growth • Some change color from brown summer plumage to white winter plumage for protection; example: ptarmigan

18. Examples of Grouse • Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) • Range: extensive, includes AK, Canada, northern U.S. • Male drums wings during mating season to attract females, but do not help rear chicks • Several races recognized in different regions

19. Examples of Grouse (Cont.) • Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) • Range: coniferous forest areas of Canada and Alaska • Males fan tails in mating ritual • Also called spruce partridge; several races identified including a now extinct southern one • Tame, does not fly away when approached

20. Examples of Grouse (Cont.) • Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) • Largest gallinaceous bird except for wild turkey • Male inflates neck/breast during courtship and make chuckling/popping sounds • Prefers open areas in dry foothills and plains where sagebrush is plentiful and food source • Population is declining: destruction of habitat, wildfires, and West Nile virus—being considered for protection under Endangered Species Act

21. Examples of Grouse (Cont.) • Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) • Range: reduced, but currently extends from Canada to TX • Population declined as tallgrass prairie habitat has been converted to farming/other uses (Atlantic Coast race Heath Hen now extinct) • Males polygynous, make loud, booming sounds; females choose own mates and raise offspring alone

22. Examples of Grouse (Cont.) • Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) • Adapted to cold, northern climates • Range: tundra regions of Alaska and northern Canada • Feathers on feet work like snowshoes to keep them from sinking in deep snow

23. Turkeys (Meleagris Gallopavo) • Native American species • Largest of game birds • Aztecs tamed turkeys long before Spanish conquerors took to Europe • Modern domestic turkeys descendants of wild turkey

24. Turkeys (Cont.) • Polygynous; dominant males gather harems of females by calling and displaying in mating ritual • More than one female may use same nest • Active only during daylight; roost in trees at night • Diet: nuts, acorns on the forest floor

25. Turkeys (Cont.) • Males have— • Prominent red facial tissue (wattles)that swell with blood, taking on bright red color when the birds are displaying in the mating ritual • Tuft of feathers (beard)dangles from breast • Range: open woodlands of eastern states to southwestern states and Mexico

26. Turkeys (Cont.) • Population has declined due to: agricultural development of farmland, land clearing, loss of trees from disease, overhunting • In 1960s, practices were put in place to help with recovery, which have been successful in some areas

27. Pigeons and Doves • Pigeons: rounded tails, larger size • Doves: pointed tails, smaller members of pigeon family • Drink by putting bills in water and sucking (other birds fill bills with water, then quickly raise heads) • Young pigeons called squabs

28. Pigeons and Doves (Cont.) • Squabs drink pigeon milk (cells from inner crop, resembles cottage cheese) secreted in crops of both parents • Primary consumers • Prey to various animals during nesting period, and mainly falcons, hawks, and other birds of prey at other times

29. Examples of Pigeons • Band-Tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata) • Larger than most domestic pigeons • Range: along Pacific coast to AK and southwestern U.S., Mexico in coniferous forest areas or oak woodlands • Rock Dove (Columba livia) • Not native, introduced from Europe • Range: throughout southern Canada and continental U.S. • City bird, adapted to city buildings, urban environment

30. Examples of Pigeons (Cont.) • Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) • Gets name from male’s cooing call • Migratory in northern regions • Range: extends from southern Canada to northern Mexico; prefer dry, upland areas, grain fields, deserts, suburban areas • Passenger pigeon • Hunted to extinction • Previously one of the most abundant birds on earth