Coolest upland bird...

[BuzzH]

I've ever seen.

I've been trying to see one of these every year while working or hunting in AZ.

Finally saw one Wednesday. Had a great day, saw 2 herds of javelina, 2 coues deer, a coyote, road runner, picked up an elk shed, found an arrow head, and saw this guy...

 

[Ithaca 37]

What a great day and a great picture! Thank you!

 

[wilecoyote76]

BuzzH - Is that a Montezuma (Mearn's) quail perhaps????

 

[Oak]

Those are very cool birds. It's impressive that he sat long enough for you to get the pic. Your Wednesday was better than mine. I sat in a class all day and took ornithology and vertebrate management tests.

WileC., it's a Montezuma quail.

Oak

 

[BuzzH]

Yep, its a montezuma quail, pretty neat bird.

Oak, yeah, he was right off the road and the photos were taken out of the truck window. I was suprised he hung around too.

 

[Daniel in Ak]

Hey Buzz that sure is awesome.Love the pic alsf all my years in Arizona mainly Cochise County I seen that bird twice in one area and I know I saw it someplace else,dont remember if it was Santa Cruz County or in another spot in Cochise.They look so much like Bobwhites that thats what I call them "Arizon Bobwhite's"

Hey now lets see that shed and arrowhead.Daniel

 

[Elkhunter]

Very nice pic Buzz. When I first saw it I thought it was a bobwhite.

 

[Nut]

Great pic of the bird Buzz! Thanks for sharing it with us.


Why are they called Montezuma's ?

 

[ELKCHSR]

I don't think I have seen one of these...It is very cool....

 

[cmiddleton]

nice looking bird do they taste as good as blue grouse yum

 

[Big Sky]

Daniel in AK, when and where did you live in Cochise county? I lived there for 7 years in Sierra Vista from 1970 to 1977.

 

[Delw]

Buzz,
mearns are pretty birds have you seen the scaled quail we have down here they are pretty also.


Delw

 

[T Bone]

Very cool looking quail. I assume they are a native bird?

 

[quail hunter]

Cool picture, I enjoy hunting mearns quail, they are usually only about 6 to 8 birds a covey, and they live in some big country, so its like being on a coues hunt.
They hold very tight ,they will blow up at your feet and scare the crap outta of you.
Dogs have a hard time smelling them so you have to go later in the day, then they "wash" as they fly so you have to wait awhile before sending dog back out to try and round some up.
Takes young dogs awhile to trust the faint scent they give, seems they always want to get in closer.
what a bird........
T Bone.... they have been here for as long as I have...1964...so I'd have to say ..native
They love oak, rolling hills or steep canyons are there hangouts.....