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California Valley Quail

California Valley Quail

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

Get to know the California Valley Quail.

California Valley Quails are easily identified by their plump shape and plume. A friend to civilization, California Valley quails, also simply referred to as valley quails, can be found in suburban neighborhoods and parks as well as the oak laden woodlands they tend to prefer. Valley quails are primarily found within the coastal areas of California, though they are also found within southern Oregon and western Nevada. Because valley quails can fly but do not like to, they avoid mountain regions and tend to remain on the ground in coveys of 10 to 200 birds. One covey activity that is a favorite of theirs, is a dust bath – valley quails ruffle their feathers, causing dust into the air – that happens daily and in sunny areas. When spooked and/or disturbed, the covey of valley quails will flush, flying into the air and scattering in different directions.

CA Valley Quail Ethology Image 1

When does mating season begin for the California Valley Quail?

In addition, quails will separate from the covey when mating season is to begin in the spring. The male valley quails will present their territory through calling, then they will court the females by expanding their wings, bobbing their head, and sometimes rushing the female. In May and June, the female valley quails will often build their nests on the ground; commonly under a shrub or thick bush, the quail will burrow a shallow hole and fill the burrow with ground contents, such as leaves and grass. After an incubation period that lasts 21 days, the clutch of 13 to 14 eggs will hatch. With the young being able to leave the nest as soon as the next day after they are born with the ability to fly short distances within 10 days, they will spend some time brooding with their mother and under the watchful eyes of their father.

How to recognize the California Valley Quail.

As they become older, the male valley quails develop a darker gray color on their backs, a blue grey color on their chests, tan and white lined wings, a brown cap, black throat and white lined crown and collar, to go with their notable topknot; the females stay more of a grey/tan/brown color with the same white lined feathers and a much less apartment plume. Both have short black beaks and dark narrow eyes. The quails weigh an average of 8 ounces and measure 10 inches in length. The valley quail has been introduced in other places around the world, but still has a sound population within their home, the golden coast of the Golden State.

Ring-Necked Pheasant

Ring-Necked Pheasant

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

What is the most popular game animal hunted for sport?

Ring-Necked Pheasants are highly regarded as being one of the most popular species hunted for sport, known as a “game bird” due to their plump size and expeditious escape tactics. Native to Asia, Ring-Neck pheasants also have a presence in Europe, Oceania, and North America. These birds prefer to run, though they are able to fly and maintain speeds from 35mph to 60mph, depending on how eager they are to leave a specific area and only for shorter distances. These pheasants can be found alone or in a group; spooked and they will disband in what is known as a “flush,” scattering in varying directions.

How to identify a Ring-Necked Pheasant.

Moreover, the males, or “roosters,” have an easily identifiable feather color and pattern; an abundance of reddish, coppery tinted feathers that cover the majority of the pheasant’s body along with red feathers covering the face, a teal green neck, white collar, black and white spots, and long tail gives the rooster a unique and distinctive appearance. The hens differ in their outward look being more of a tan/dark brown color throughout. Booth the roosters and the hens have long necks and average 2 to 3 pounds.

Nesting season for the Ring-Necked Pheasant.

The roosters assert dominance over the females, mating with several during mating season, which is in the springtime. Nesting begins in early May with the hens typically establishing their nests within shallow dug holes on the ground and surrounded by their preferred habitat consisting of untouched, tall grasses. The clutch of the hen is composed of 7 to 15 eggs, 12 eggs on average; hens must be watchful over their nest that can be threatened by common foe, such as foxes, raccoon, skunks, and feral cats. Furthermore, the pheasant eggs will hatch in mid-June, and the brood of chicks will stay with their mother for 2 ½ months or longer, learning fundamental survival skills before gaining their independence. Ring-Neck pheasants are ground foragers who prefer to consume grasses, leaves, roots, nuts, fruits, and insects. The average lifespan of a wild pheasant is 1 year due to predation, though hens have added protection when it comes to hunting in some areas; nevertheless, they manage to maintain a rather steady population.

Chukar Partridge

Chukar Partridge

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

What lands are Partridge Chukars native to?

Chukar Partridges belong to the pheasant and grouse family; and they are native to southern Asia and the Middle East. These birds have since been introduced to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and the western part of North America. The habitat of the chukar is primarily founded upon desert plains where mountain ranges, rock formations, bushy slopes, canyons, and/or mild climates are present.

 

How to spot a Chukar and where.

Because of the chukar’s neutral coloring, the bird is easily able to blend in with the landscape; a predominately tan color with striping on the wings, a red bill, a black band through the eyes as well as down and around the neck, gives the chukar a distinctive appearance. Should chukars become spotted and spooked, these birds will demonstrate their ability to run and easily navigate an escape through steep and uneven terrain, making them difficult to track. What is more, the chukar is a ground-dwelling bird; though weather conditions can negatively affect their population along with the scarcity of water at times, they do appreciate the dirt. Bathing in the dirt allows the chukar to keep their feathers looking immaculate, which is a good idea when nesting season begins in March to August.

Common behaviors and nesting traits of the Chukar.

Male chukars attract females by tilting their head and circling the females; males will sometimes feed the female as a means of demonstrating their affection. The female chukar will build a nest on the ground; under a rock or under a shrub, a chukar will burrow a small depression within the Earth, lining the depression with grass, twigs, leaves, etc. The female chukar can lay as little as 6 eggs and as many as 25 eggs; she may also have a total of 2 clutches, in which the female chukar and male chukar will assist in the incubation process that lasts for an average of 23 days. Within a few days of the eggs hatching, the chicks can leave the nest after being tended to by both parents; they are soon able to find their own food, acquiring the ability to fly in 7 days – reaching full size in 2 months. Chukars measure about 13 to 15 inches in length; they have a 20-inch wingspan and weigh a little over 1 ½ pounds and can live up to 5 years. Their diet consists of seeds, leaves, berries, and insects. They also prefer traveling in coveys. Chukars are unique and speedy birds, agile and very much fleeting.

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

Where do Rio Grande Turkeys live?

Rio Grande Turkeys have a steadfast presence within the United States, being found within the following states: western California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. These specific regions of the country have presented an environment for which the Rio Grande turkey has the opportunity to thrive for a lifetime (up to 10 years); with the desired habitat consisting of both wooded and open fields with grassy areas and a steady water supply, the Rio Grande turkey establishes itself. Tall oak trees and other trees of the like, such as elm and cottonwood, provide wide canopies for the turkeys to roost in, with roosts mainly in the summertime and the wintertime; their diet consists of grasses, insects, nuts, and berries as well. Rio Grande turkeys are sociable, often foraging together.

Wild Turkey Ethology Image 1

What additional names are Rio Grande Turkeys called?

Furthermore, adult male turkeys are referred to as “gobblers,” females are called “hens,” adolescent males are known as “toms,” and, lastly, the turkeys under 4 weeks of age are recognized as “poults.” The gobblers can weigh up to 20 pounds and are 40 inches tall, while the hens can weigh up to 11 pounds and stand at 30 inches tall. In addition, gobblers will employ their distinctive gobble to attract the attention of the hens, displaying their ornate ornamentation; gobblers will also strut in front of the hens and expand their 5,000 to 6,000 iridescent feathers, assuming a recognizable profile. The feathers of the gobbler take on an emerald green and coppery brown color that coats their predominantly reddish/dark brown feathers; a hen has similar coloring, though the hues are much more subtle and not as apparent as the gobbler.

When does mating season begin for the Rio Grande Turkey?

In the springtime, the turkeys will mate, with nesting occurring in the late springtime and through July and the poults hatching in May or June. A hen will lay an egg a day and, in total, 10 to 12 eggs. The nest of the hen consists of a shallow, bowl-shaped area within the ground, covered with gathered foliage, surrounded with tall grasses for protection, and with a nearby water source. Once the poults hatch after a 28-day incubation, they form a brood, eating the insects they find on the Earth’s floor, leaving the nest with the hen as soon as 12 to 24 hours after hatching. In 3 weeks, poults have learned basic skills of how to survive through mimicking their mother’s behavior and through recognizing different calls, such as alarm calls; poults are even able to roost in small trees, which heightens their chances of survival in the wild. Roosting occurs often in the summer and in the winter, allowing the turkeys to avoid potential threats; common enemies consist of raccoons, foxes, wild pigs, hawks, and more. With a formed hierarchy, Rio Grande Turkeys know their place among one another as they form their groups amongst their particular home ranges.

Javelina

Javelina

by | Sep 3, 2020 | Animal

Are Javelinas pigs?

The peccary, commonly known as the Javelin, Javelina, what will be referenced in this article, or Musk hog, may be many things, but not a pig. Despite their similar appearance, the javelina is from the New World, whereas pigs are of the Old World. Their primary differences are more subtle, though still very prevalent in their physical structure. A few differences are as follows: the javelina has three toes on the hind foot (the wild pig has four), the javelina has 38 teeth (the wild pig has up to 44 teeth), the javelina has straight canine teeth (the wild pig has predominately curved canine teeth), the javelina has a short tail (the wild pig has a long one), and, finally, the javelina has scent glands (and the wild pig does not). These distinctions are some of the ways in which the javelina is distinguished from wild pigs, considering their foremost outward form is almost identical.

Javelina Ethology Image 1

Get to know the Javelina.

Javelinas have a large head and circular snout, small ears, short legs, and plump body that is covered in coarse black hair as well as a thin white collar around the neck. They average 2 feet in height, 3 to 4 feet in length, and weigh up to 55 pounds. The normal lifespan of a javelina in the wild is 7 years, though they have been recorded to live as many as 20 years. They are social animals who forge together in groups or “bands” ranging from 10 to 50 javelinas. The javelina is a known herbivore, surviving off of succulents, cacti, grasses, bulbs, prickly pears, etc. They have the ability of retaining water from such plants, which inherently makes water less of a viable asset to them on occasion. In addition, their peek eating times are morning, late afternoon, and evening; nighttime scavenging occurs only during summer seasons. Depending on the geographical location of the javelina, they will rest for the night in cervices and canyons within rock, shallow depressions within the Earth or heavily shrubby areas; they also huddle together for warmth and protection from looming predators.

Javelina Ethology Image 2

Where can the Javelina be found?

The javelina is found within South America and the more southern regions of North America with a presence within Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Particularly within Texas, the javelina is regarded as a game animal, hunted for sport, which has resulted from their notorious reputation of up-turning prized agricultural lands. Along with being human prey, they are also threatened by other predators such as coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and even black bears; these aspects, in part, factor into the mortality rate of javelinas, which is 50% or higher at times.

When does breeding season begin for the Javelina?

Breeding season for the javelina is all throughout the year and for a lifetime after their first year. Most births take place in the spring and summer months of May, June, and July after a gestation period of 5 months. Javelinas will birth one to two offspring also known “reds” because of the vibrant copper tone they have when first born. The reds are weaned after 2 months and are able to consume solid foods, thereafter. They sometimes stay within family bands and identify each other through the scent glands on their rumps, which they will brush upon their surroundings as well as other javelinas; this will allow them to identify one another and steadily maintain their territory.