Texas Quails: Ecology and Management

Nothing is more evocative of the Texas outdoors than the whistled call of the bobwhite. While the familiar two-note greeting is now just a memory for most of us who live in the state’s growing urban sprawl, this bird is an economic commodity on par with crops and livestock in some regions of Texas.

Three other native species of quail also inhabit Texas. Like the northern bobwhite, the scaled quail is significant as a game bird. The other two species, Gambel’s quail and Montezuma quail, are found in limited areas of southwestern Texas and represent an important indicator of forest, rangeland, and habitat conditions.

Texas Quails presents the first complete assessment of the four species of quail found in this vast state. Experts describe each of them and examine all geographic regions of the state for historical and current population trends, habitat status, and research needs. These experts also discuss management practices, hunting issues, economics, and diseases.

With the recent creation of the Texas Quail Conservation Initiative, this volume provides a timely and comprehensive view of quail science and stewardship.

Nothing is more evocative of the Texas outdoors than the whistled call of the bobwhite. While the familiar two-note greeting is now just a memory for most of us who live in the state’s growing urban sprawl, this bird is an economic commodity on par with crops and livestock in some regions of Texas.

Three other native species of quail also inhabit Texas. Like the northern bobwhite, the scaled quail is significant as a game bird. The other two species, Gambel’s quail and Montezuma quail, are found in limited areas of southwestern Texas and represent an important indicator of forest, rangeland, and habitat conditions.

Texas Quails presents the first complete assessment of the four species of quail found in this vast state. Experts describe each of them and examine all geographic regions of the state for historical and current population trends, habitat status, and research needs. These experts also discuss management practices, hunting issues, economics, and diseases.

With the recent creation of the Texas Quail Conservation Initiative, this volume provides a timely and comprehensive view of quail science and stewardship.

Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society

There is no publication like it. For the first time, virtually all of the quail research that has been conducted in Texas has been condensed and compiled into one volume. Including a host of major players in Texas quail research, each giving his best to the effort, the book is a monumental contribution and should be of interest to anyone interested in the welfare of quail. . . . Texas Quails: Ecology and Management should be considered an essential reference for all wildlife professionals and land managers interested in quail. It provides a long awaited assemblage of current knowledge related to Texas quail and will no doubt find widespread and welcome service for many years to come. My hat's off to all those involved in putting together this superb work.

LEONARD A. BRENNAN is a professor and holds the Endowed Chair for Quail Research at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University–Kingsville.