Winter feeding habits of quail in longleaf-slash pine habitat
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Abstract
Crops of bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) collected in 11 years (7,147 in winter and 92 in other seasons) in the longleaf-slash pine (Pinus palustris-P. elliottii) forest type were examined for food content. Seeds of woody plants made up 45% or more of the volume of food found in crops in 9 of the 11 winters. Seeds of pines (Pinus spp.), drupes of red bay (Persea borbonia), and acorns from various oaks (Quercus spp.) were large-volume food items in certain years. As a group, seeds produced by legumes were next largest in volume, varying from 2 to 48% in the 11 winters. Seeds of partridge peas (Cassia spp.), common lespedeza (Lespedeza striata), bush clovers (Lespedeza spp.), milkpeas (Galactia spp.), and tick-clovers (Desmodium spp.) were impor tant species. Volumes of seeds of grass, spurge, and sedge families were usually less than 12% for each group, and volumes of green leaves and animal matter less than 5% each. Panic (Panicum spp.) and paspalums (Paspalum spp.) were principal grass species. Availability of seeds influ enced consumption by forest-dwelling quail. In habitat management for quail, a variety of trees and shrubs should be maintained in the forest type to better insure a dependable food base, season to season and year to year. Similarly, desirable herbaceous food plants should be encour aged by fire and mechanical means.
Study Area
Publication type | Report |
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Publication Subtype | Federal Government Series |
Title | Winter feeding habits of quail in longleaf-slash pine habitat |
Series title | Special Scientific Report - Wildlife |
Series number | 220 |
Year Published | 1979 |
Language | English |
Publisher | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Description | 39 p. |
Country | United States |
State | Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, South Carolina |
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