Colinus virginianus ridgwayi
Brewster, 1885
Masked Bobwhite
T1T1Global Rank
Very high - mediumThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101584
Element CodeABNLC21022
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
CITESAppendix I
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderGalliformes
FamilyOdontophoridae
GenusColinus
Other Common Names
masked bobwhite (EN) Masked bobwhite (quail) (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1957. The AOU check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD. 691 pp.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2013-03-04
Change Date1996-11-25
Edition Date2013-03-04
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., and A. Lambert
Threat ImpactVery high - medium
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Small range in Arizona and Sonora (Mexico); severe decline over the long term; total population may be fewer than 1,000; habitat has been degraded by drought and cattle overgrazing.
Range Extent Comments
Range includes a small portion of Sonora, Mexico, and a small area in south-central Arizona (USFWS 1995, Hernández et al. 2006). Northern limit of historical range is defined by the Altar and Santa Cruz valleys in Arizona (Arizona Game and Fish Department 2001). This subspecies was extirpated from the United States by about 1900. A reintroduced population now exists at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. Elevational range extends from 10 to 1,200 meters. Elevational range on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is 942 to 1,135 meters (Arizona Game and Fish Department 2001).
Occurrences Comments
The number of occurrences has not been determined using up-to-date data and standardized criteria, but certainly the number is small. Only a few populations may exist in Sonora, Mexico, but the status of these is poorly known; one reintroduced population occurs in Arizona (USFWS 1995).
Threat Impact Comments
Factors that likely contributed to the declines in Sonora and Arizona include drought, cattle overgrazing, brush invasion (but see following), and control of range fires (Ehrlich et al. 1992, Kuvlesky et al. 2000, Arizona Game and Fish Department 2001). Effects of cattle grazing include removal of cover, nesting habitat, and food resources (Matthews and Moseley 1990). Depletion of ground cover prevents fires that kill off invading woody plants, which in turn degrade habitat for bobwhite.
Current threats include overgrazing, spread of non-native plants (but see following), predation on depleted populations by birds and mammals (including domestic dogs and cats), and possibly competition with other native quail (Arizona Game and Fish Department 2001).
According to an analysis by Hernández et al. (2006): Masked bobwhite populations probably 1) experience chronic low reproduction resulting from living in a desert environment, 2) have not been negatively impacted by the historic conversion of grasslands to brushlands, and 3) have not been as detrimentally impacted as other avian species by the establishment of nonnative grasses within their range because these plants possess functional value for masked bobwhites.
Climate change could be a threat if it results in prolonged drought.
Current threats include overgrazing, spread of non-native plants (but see following), predation on depleted populations by birds and mammals (including domestic dogs and cats), and possibly competition with other native quail (Arizona Game and Fish Department 2001).
According to an analysis by Hernández et al. (2006): Masked bobwhite populations probably 1) experience chronic low reproduction resulting from living in a desert environment, 2) have not been negatively impacted by the historic conversion of grasslands to brushlands, and 3) have not been as detrimentally impacted as other avian species by the establishment of nonnative grasses within their range because these plants possess functional value for masked bobwhites.
Climate change could be a threat if it results in prolonged drought.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Habitat includes level plains and river valleys; open grasslands, semi-arid desert scrub, desert grasslands; weedy bottomlands, grassy and herb-strewn valleys, forb-rich plains; grass and weed cover is seasonal, and tree/shrub cover varies geographically (mesquite usually present in north). In Arizona, the quail favored areas with relatively high vegetative structural diversity (King et al. 1997).
Eastern and southern distribution coincides with beginning of denser vegetation of Sinaloan thorn-scrub. Distribution to the west and northwest is limited by paucity of summer precipitation. Nests are constructed on the ground in heavy cover.
Eastern and southern distribution coincides with beginning of denser vegetation of Sinaloan thorn-scrub. Distribution to the west and northwest is limited by paucity of summer precipitation. Nests are constructed on the ground in heavy cover.
Ecology
Seasonally gregarious, forming groups of usually less than 20 individuals; groups dissolve as pairs form around late June (Matthews and Moseley 1990).
Reproduction
Clutch size is 5-15. Hatching begins in late July, may continue through early November. May not nest if rains are delayed or absent.
Terrestrial Habitats
SavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | SX,S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Pervasive - restricted | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching | Pervasive - restricted | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Unknown | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 7.1 - Fire & fire suppression | Unknown | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 11.2 - Droughts | Pervasive (71-100%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (1)
Arizona (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Tumacacori | Coronado National Forest | 44,594 |
References (11)
- American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1957. The AOU check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD. 691 pp.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department. 2001. <i>Colinus virginianus ridgwayi</i>. Unpublished abstract compiled and edited by the Heritage Data Management System, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arixzona.
- Carroll, J. P., W. P. Kuvleksy, Jr., S. A. Gall, and F. G. Salazar. 1994. Status of Mexican quail. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference 59:457-465.
- Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1992. Birds in Jeopardy: the Imperiled and Extinct Birds of the United States and Canada, Including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 259 pp.
- Guthery, F. S., N. M. King, K. R. Nolte, W. P. Kuvlesky, Jr., S. DeStefano, S. A. Gall, and N. J. Silvy. 2000. Comparative habitat ecology of Texas and masked bobwhites. Journal of Wildlife Management 64:407-420.
- Hernández, F., W. P. Kuvlesky, Jr., R. W. DeYoung, L. A. Brennan, and S. A. Gall. 2006. Recovery of rare species: case study of the masked bobwhite. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:617-631.
- King, N. M., S. DeStafano, W. P. Kuvlesky, Jr., and S. A. Gall. 1997. Habitat use by endangered masked bobwhite (<i>Colinus virginianus ridgwayi</i>) on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. Final report submitted to Heritage Program, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arizona.
- Kuvlesky, W. P., Jr.; Gall, S. A.; Dobrott, S. J.; Tolley, S.; Guthery, F. S.; DeStefano, S.A.; King, N.; Nolte, K. R.; Silvy, N. J.; Lewis, J. C.; Gee, G.; Camou Luders, G.; Engel-Wilson, R. 2000. The status of masked bobwhite recovery in the United States and Mexico. In L. A. Brennan et al., editor. Quail IV: proceedings of the Fourth National Quail Symposium, May 6-9, 1997. Tall Timber Research Center, Tallahassee, Florida.
- Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Masked bobwhite recovery plan. Second revision. USFWS, Albuquerque, New Mexico.