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Oreortyx pictus

(Douglas, 1829)

Mountain Quail

G5Secure Found in 142 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104712
Element CodeABNLC24010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderGalliformes
FamilyOdontophoridae
GenusOreortyx
Other Common Names
Codorniz de Montaña (ES) Colin des montagnes (FR) mountain quail (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly in family Phasianidae; placed in family Odontophoridae by AOU (1997).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-03-26
Change Date1996-11-25
Edition Date2025-03-26
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread at altitudes of 450-3,000 m in the western United States and northwestern México. Parts of the range suffered significant historical declines, but the population is reportedly stable and there are ongoing reintroduction efforts.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found in mountains of the western United States and northwestern México at elevations from 450-3,000 m (1,500 to 10,000 ft.). The range extends from southern Washington and western Idaho south through Oregon along the Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges into Baja California Norte (Gutiérrez and Delehanty 2020). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records, range extent is estimated to be 938,498 km² (RARECAT 2024).
Occurrences Comments
There are many occurrences throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
There is evidence that mountain quail populations occurring in the northern and western Great Basin, the Interior Columbia Basin, and lands west to the Cascade Crest within Washington and Oregon sustained a dramatic range contraction in the mid to late 20th century caused by extensive loss of riparian habitats, loss of woody vegetation associated with riparian habitats, loss of interfacing upland shrub habitats, loss of plant species diversity, and simplification of habitats (Crawford 2000, USFWS 2003). The petitioners claimed that 80 to 90 percent of riparian habitats essential to the mountain quail in arid interior lands have been lost, fragmented, or altered. This is in contrast to the more humid coastal forests of Oregon, Washington, and California, where mountain quail populations are more abundant and widespread due to broad areas of continuous habitat. Decline in west-central and southwestern Idaho perhaps has been due to competitive exclusion by California quail, disturbance from livestock and humans during the nesting season, predation by coyote, hunting, and heavy mortality during severe winters (Spahr et al. 1991). Hunting is likely only a minor threat due to the limited scope and difficulty of access (Gutiérrez and Delehanty 2020).

Severe wildfires generally do not present a major threat and may increase habitat suitability over time (Brunk et al. 2023).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Brushy mountainsides, coniferous forest, forest and meadow edges, dense undergrowth, and in more arid conditions in sagebrush, pinyon and juniper (AOU 1983). Favors areas with tall dense shrubs, close to water (Brennan et al. 1987). May move to areas with suitable mast crops in fall. Nests on the ground in a shallow scrape lined with plant material. Usually nests under protective cover of a tree, shrubs, fallen branches, etc., within a few hundred meters of water.

Ecology

Forms coveys in late summer and early fall. Coveys usually number 3-20 (often 5-10) birds, break up in late winter. Relatively sedentary in summer, but thought to travel at least 25 kilometers in some locations to avoid snow in winter (Gutierrez and Delehanty 1999). In winter daily movements usually are less than 1000 yards; in summer usually less than 1/2 mile (Bureau of Land Management, no date). Densities of 9-30 individuals/100 ha have been recorded in different California habitats.

Reproduction

Nesting occurs mainly from April to mid-July, with geographic variability (earliest at low elevations). Females (sometimes males) incubate 7-10 eggs for 24-25 days. Precocial nestlings are tended by both parents, or by either adult. Young can fly about 14 days after hatching. Family group may stay together through fall and winter. One brood per year.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparral
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaNNA
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaSNANo
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoS2Yes
WashingtonS1Yes
NevadaS3Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge - restrictedNegligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsLarge - restrictedNegligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.1.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)Large - restrictedNegligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (142)
California (127)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Bell QuinbyShasta-Trinity National Forest11,556
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
Big Butte ShinboneMendocino National Forest4,265
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Board CampSix Rivers National Forest4,527
Butt Mtn.Lassen National Forest8,217
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
ChinquapinShasta-Trinity National Forest22,040
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Deer MountainMendocino National Forest11,716
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
DryModoc National Forest7,726
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East BeegumShasta-Trinity National Forest8,425
East ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest6,201
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Grizzly PeakPlumas National Forest6,222
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Iceberg - RodriquezHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest229
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. LassicSix Rivers National Forest6,643
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork Middle Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest11,245
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Poison HoleEldorado National Forest2,627
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
SinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,004
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
Snow MountainLassen National Forest2,165
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Sycamore SpringsSierra National Forest10,015
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
Thomes CreekMendocino National Forest16,616
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wild Cattle MtnLassen National Forest4,965
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Oregon (13)
AreaForestAcres
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
Hardesty MountainWillamette National Forest3,754
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Lord Flat Somers PointWallowa-Whitman National Forest67,738
Mcclellan MountainMalheur National Forest21,213
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Shasta CostaSiskiyou National Forests14,420
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
SherwoodUmpqua National Forest2,449
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Asotin CreekUmatilla National Forest16,433
References (25)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  4. Brennan, L. A., W. M. Block, and R. J. Gutierrez. 1987. Habitat use by mountain quail in northern California. Condor 89:66-74.
  5. Brunk, K. M., R. J. Gutiérrez, M. Z. Peery, C. A. Cansler, S. Kahl, and C. M. Wood. 2023. Quail on fire: changing fire regimes may benefit mountain quail in fire-adapted forests. Fire Ecology 19:19. doi: 0.1186/s42408-023-00180-9
  6. Bureau of Land Management. Life History Summaries.
  7. Calkins, J. D., J. C. Hagelin, and D. F. Lott. 1999. California Quail (CALLIPEPLA CALIFORNICA). No. 473 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  8. Crawford, J. A. 2000. Historic distribution of mountain quail in the Pacific Northwest. National Quail Symposium Proceedings Vol. 4, Article 47. doi: 10.7290/nqsp04kkpc
  9. DeVos, T. and B. S. Mueller. 1993. Reproductive ecology of Northern Bobwhite in north Florida. Proceedings of the National Quail Symposium III:83-89.
  10. Fink, D., T. Auer, A. Johnston, M. Strimas-Mackey, S. Ligocki, O. Robinson, W. Hochachka, L. Jaromczyk, C. Crowley, K. Dunham, A. Stillman, I. Davies, A. Rodewald, V. Ruiz-Gutierrez, and C. Wood. 2023. eBird Status and Trends, Data Version: 2022; Released: 2023. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. doi: 10.2173/ebirdst.2022
  11. Gutierrez, R. J., and D. J. Delehanty. 1999. Mountain Quail (OREORTYX PICTUS). No. 457 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 28pp.
  12. Gutiérrez, R. J. and D. J. Delehanty. 2020. Mountain Quail (<em>Oreortyx pictus</em>), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. doi: 10.2173/bow.mouqua.01
  13. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  14. Johnsgard, P. A. 1988. The quails, partridges, and francolins of the world. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. 264 pp.
  15. Lee, J. M. 1994. Habitat ecology of Northern Bobwhite at Copiah County Wildlife Management Area. Masters thesis, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State.
  16. Manley, S. W. 1994. Evaluation of old-field habitat manipulations for breeding Northern Bobwhites. Masters thesis, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State.
  17. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  18. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  19. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  20. Pope, M. D., and J. A. Crawford. 2004. Survival rates of translocated and native mountain quail in Oregon. Western North American Naturalist 64(3): 331–337.
  21. Spahr, R., L. Armstrong, D. Atwood, and M. Rath. 1991. Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species of the Intermountain Region. U.S. Forest Service, Ogden, Utah.
  22. Stromberg, M. R. 2000. Montezuma Quail. No. 524 IN A. Poole and F. Gill (editors), The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 20pp.
  23. Taylor, J. S., K. E. Church, D. H. Rusch, and J. R. Cary. 1999a. Macrohabitat effects on summer survival, movements, and clutch success of Northern Bobwhite in Kansas. Journal of Wildlife Management 63:675-685.
  24. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  25. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 22 January 2003. 90-day finding for a petition to list the mountain quail as threatened or endangered. Federal Register 68(14):3000-3005.