Bioenergetics of wintering Scaled Quail.

Abstract

The comparative energetics of Borne game birds, such as bobwhite quail, pheasants, and some grouse fed wild and domestic seeds, have been determined, but little is known about the bioenergetics of the Scaled Quail of southwestern Kansas. The purpose of this investigation was to determine which of twelve different seeds, sorghum. Kester's milo, Kester's switchgrass, Blackwell switchgrass, amaranth, bulk amaranth, canary grass, Korean lespedez8, Western wheat grass, sanddrop seed, pearl millet, and sunflower chips, were best metabolized by Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) under the stress of simulated winter conditions. Based on utilization efficiencies, metabolized energies, and body weight changes of the quail, individual seeds were placed into categories of poor, good or excellent. Korean lespedeza and both switchgrasses were placed into the poor category, whereas sanddrop seed, Kester's milo and canary grass were considered to be good. Amaranth, bulk amaranth, sorghum, pearl millet, and sunflower chips were placed into the excellent category, since quail fed those seeds exhibited the best maintenance of body weights and highest metabolic utilization efficiencies. Western wheat grass, in contrast, was not eaten by any of the birds and was considered an extremely poor food source for Scaled Quail. Poorly metabolized seeds, such as the switchgrasses, still may be of use to Scaled Quail. when accompanied by a well metabolized seed such as amaranth since birds given a choice of both amaranth and switchgrass did equally as well as birds given amaranth alone. Metabolic similarities and differences were found when the results from Scaled Quail were compared to previous investigations with Northern Bobwhites fed similar diets. Overall, the bioenergetics of the Scaled Quail and bobwhite quail appear to be similar.