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Books about Quail

The books are listed in order of publication date with the most recent at the top.

Books about quail in captivity are not included.


Quail

In the UK

Family: Phasianidae

Common Quail
Coturnix coturnix

Worldwide

Family: Phasianidae

There are approximately 14 species of Old World quail worldwide in the family Phasianidae

Family: Odontophoridae

In the New World they are 28 species of quail in the family Odontophoridae.

Note

Buttonquail are not related to old or new world quail but named because of their superficial resemblance.

 

Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa: Guineafowls, Francolins, Spurfowls, Quails, Sandgrouse & Snipes

Rob Little

Jacana

2016

"Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa is a detailed full-colour hand book. It includes everything needed to identify and get to know the 74 species that fall into six groups: guineafowls and Congo Peafowl, francolins and partridges, spurfowls, quails, sandgrouse, and snipes and Eurasian Woodcock. Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa offers a concise summary of the large but scattered body of accumulated scientific research and field-guide literature. Pertinent and interesting facts about the distribution, habits, breeding and conservation of each species are presented in a readable fashion. More than 250 photographs convey the appearance, characteristic features, behavioural activities and, in many cases, the habitats frequented by each bird. Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa will be a worthy addition to the ornithological literature and to the bookshelves of bird enthusiasts, particularly birders, wing-shooters, land owners and anyone with an interest in nature and conservation, throughout Africa and across the rest of the world."

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Beef, Brush, and Bobwhites: Quail Management in Cattle Country

Fidel Hernández and Fred S. Guthery

Texas A & M University Press

2nd edition

2012

"In this completely revised Texas A&M University Press edition, Guthery and coauthor Fidel Hernández have breathed new life into a classic work that for more than twenty years has been teaching biologists, managers, and ranchers to 'think like a quail.' Updated with the latest research on quail habitat management, predator control, and recent issues such as aflatoxin contamination, Hernández and Guthery help land stewards understand the optimum conditions for encouraging and sustaining quail populations while continuing to manage rangeland for cattle production. Written in a style that is entertaining and easy to read, this book is, in Guthery's words, 'meant to be kept on the dashboard of your pickup.' More than 150 helpful photographs and figures, along with supporting tables, accompany the text."

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Texas Bobwhites: A Guide to Their Foods and Habitat Management

Jon A. Larson, Timothy E. Fulbright, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernández, and Fred C. Bryant

University of Texas Press

2010

"Northern bobwhites are one of the most popular game birds in the United States. In Texas alone, nearly 100,000 hunters take to the field each fall and winter to pursue wild bobwhite quail. Texas is arguably the last remaining state with sufficient habitat to provide quail-hunting opportunities on a grand scale, and Texas ranchers with good bobwhite habitat often generate a greater proportion of their income from fees paid by quail hunters than from livestock production. Managing and expanding bobwhite habitat makes good sense economically, and it benefits the environment as well. The rangelands and woodlands of Texas that produce quail also support scores of other species of wildlife. Texas Bobwhites is a field guide to the seeds commonly eaten by northern bobwhites, as well as a handbook for conserving and improving northern bobwhite habitat. It provides identifying characteristics for the seeds of 91 species of grasses, forbs, woody plants and succulents. Each seed description includes a close-up and a scale photo of the seed and the plant that produces it, along with a range map. Using this information, hunters can readily identify concentrations of plants that are most likely to attract quail. Landowners and rangeland managers will greatly benefit from the book's state-of-the-art guidance for habitat management and restoration, including improving habitat dominated by invasive and nonnative grasses."

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Bobwhite Quail in Florida: Ecology and Management

William M. Giuliano, James F. Selph and Brandon J. Schad

UF/IFAS Publications

2007

Provides current information on quail biology, ecology, population status, and habitat requirements. Readers will find detailed descriptions of the habitat necessary for quail to breed, nest, forage, take shelter, and ultimately thrive. The authors offer useful management practices for farms, rangelands, and forests, including the use of prescribed fire and other disturbances, artificial feeding, predator management, restocking with wild or pen-raised birds, and the roles that harvest and hunting play in maintaining quail populations. This book makes it possible for Florida's landowners and managers, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts to be informed and active participants in the recovery of this magnificent bird.

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Texas Quails: Ecology and Management

Editor: Leonard A. Brennan

Texas A & M University Press

2006

"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."

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Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse: Including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and their Allies

Steve Madge and Phil MacGowan

Illustrations: Norman Arlott, Robin Budden, Daniel Cole, John Cox, Carl D'Silva, Kim Franklin and David Mead

Helm

2002

"A comprehensive guide to over 250 species of pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, turkeys, guineafowl, buttonquails and sandgrouse. This book is primarily an identification guide focusing on identification details and description. The text provides information on identification, description, geographical variation, voice, status, habitat and behavior, distribution, movements and conservation issues. 72 color plates show male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages. There is a colour distribution map for each species. A glossary and bibliography are provided."

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Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse: Including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and their Allies

Steve Madge and Phil MacGowan

Illustrations: Norman Arlott, Robin Budden, Daniel Cole, John Cox, Carl D'Silva, Kim Franklin and David Mead

Princeton University Press

2002

"This guide brings together, for the first time within a single volume, a comprehensive review of all the world's pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, turkeys, guineafowl, buttonquails, sandgrouse, and the enigmatic Plains-wanderer - over 250 species in all. The group includes some of the world's most familiar and beautiful birds, such as the Indian peafowl and the stunning tragopans, as well as some of the rarest and most threatened. This book concentrates on detailed identification and distribution, but also highlights conservation issues where relevant. The seventy-two color plates, by leading bird illustrators, show male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages, and form the finest set of illustrations of these birds to date. There is also a color distribution map for each species."

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Partridges, Quails, Francolins, Snowcocks, Guineafowl and Turkeys: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, 2000-2004

Editors: Richard A. Fuller, John P. Carroll, Philip J.K. McGowan on behalf of WPA/BirdLife/SSC Partridge, Quail and Francolin Specialist Group

IUCN - The World Conservation Union

2002

A 64 page report. This superseded the 1995 publication Partridges, Quails, Francolins, Snowcocks and Guineafowl: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 1994-1999.

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On Bobwhites

Fred S. Guthery

W L Moody, Jr, Natural History Series #27

Texas A & M University Press

2000

"Bobwhite quail are one of America's favorite game birds. Healthy coveys of bobwhites indicate healthy land, and because quail hunting can bring in valuable income, landowners and game managers value these birds and encourage them wherever the habitat is suitable. Although biologists have studied bobwhites since the 1920s and have amassed an awesome base of information about this species, their knowledge has not been made widely available to landowners, hunters, and other lay readers. The questions that arise during periods of reflection after a hunt or in discussions around a campfire already have answers, but these, too often, are all buried in the scientific literature. Fred S. Guthery, one of the leading experts on bobwhite quail in the Southwest and southern Midwest, provides a wealth of useful and interesting information in this very readable, well-organized single volume. He offers new experiences and perspectives, based on the latest research, along with a review of his well-known writings and insights from the past fifteen years of observation. Guthery has concentrated most of his work on the Southwest, but this book provides information about all the areas that bobwhite inhabit and also includes information on the related species, Gambel's quail. Because the biology of quail and the principles of their management are very general, the information presented in this book will have application everywhere bobwhites are known."

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Partridges, Quails, Francolins, Snowcocks, Guineafowl and Turkeys: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, 1995-1999

Editors: Philip J.K. McGowan, Simon D. Dowell, John P. Carroll and Nicholas J. Aebischer, and the WPA/BirdLife/SSC Partridge, Quail and Francolin Specialist Group

International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

1995

A 101 page report with an overview of the species covered; summary of their conservation status; regional statistics; and project proposals by region.

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The Atlas of Quails

David Alderton

Illustrations: Henry Jones

TFH Publications

1992

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Quails, Partridges and Francolins Of The World

Paul A. Johnsgard

Illustrations: Henry Jones

Oxford University Press

1988

"This book describes 103 species of Old World quails, partridges and francolins and 31 species of New World quails. The descriptions cover biology, ecology, development, behaviour, taxonomy, and zoogeographic aspects. Includes 127 colour plates and 42 maps. The book is a companion volume to the author's Pheasants of the World."

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Bobwhite Thesaurus

Thomas G. Scott

Color plate: Bob Cary

International Quail Foundation

1985

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Grouse and Quails of North America

Paul A. Johnsgard

University of Nebraska Press

1973

"A study of the 23 native species of grouse and quails occurring north of Guatemala in North America, plus two introduced partridges. An identification key and bibliography are included. Includes 52 colour plates, 88 monochrome photographs and other maps and drawings."

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Quails and Partridges of North America: A Bibliography

Charles G. Crispens

University of Washington Press

1960

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The Quails

Edward S. Spaulding

Illustrations: Francis Lee Jaques

MacMillan

1949

122 pages with 7 colour plates.

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The Natural History Of British Game Birds

J.G. Milais

Plates: J.G. Millais, Archibald Thorburn

Longmans Green & Co

1909

From the introduction: "The Natural History of the British Surface-feeding Ducks was so successful that I have been encouraged to produce the present work on Game Birds on similar lines, but I trust with superior reproductions. Our birds of the chase are a subject of perennial interest both to sportsmen and naturalists, and I have endeavoured to bring all that is known about them up to date, as well as to add much fresh material regarding the habits, plumages, hybrids, and varieties of a group of which I have made a special study for many years. Again I have had the great assistance of my friend Mr. Archibald Thorburn, whose work amongst his particular family of birds needs no eulogy on my part. It is sufficient to say that his paintings of gallinaceous birds have never been, nor are likely to be, surpassed in our generation."

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The Bobwhite And Other Quails Of The United States In Their Economic Relations

Sylvester D. Judd

Color frontispiece and 1 b/w plate: Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Division Of Biological Survey Bulletin No. 21

US Department of Agriculture

Government Printing Office

1905

From the introduction:

The quails of the United States, because of their interesting habits and marvelous diversity of form and color, are a notably attractive group. All are handsome birds, but the most striking and beautiful species live in the Southwest and on the Pacific coast. Seven species occur within our borders, but only one in the Eastern States. The others are widely distributed from Texas to California and Oregon. Their range was, and still is, continuous along the entire southern border of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific; but there is an irregular belt along the northern border and a large area in the interior, comprising the Great Plains, the northern three- fourths of the Great Basin,- and the Rocky Mountains, in which they appear to have been originally wanting. With few exceptions our quails welcome the extension of agriculture, and the added food supply in farmed areas results in an increase of their numbers. This is equally true of the bobwhite of the East, and of some of the desert species of the West. So fully does the bobwhite appreciate the advantages of the farm that its range has increased with the extension of the cultivated area, especially west of the Mississippi.
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The Gallinaceous Game Birds of North America

Daniel Giraud Elliot

Illustrations: Edwin Sheppard

Francis P. Harper

1897

From the preface:

"The construction of the present volume is precisely similar to that of the "Shore Birds," and first is given the common name of each bird, or, if there are more than one, that most generally employed. Then follows an account of the habits and economy of the species, and a short life history; after which comes the Latin name succeeded by the geographical distribution, and a description of both sexes when necessary, and of the young whenever possible. In the Appendix will be found the Keys to the Families, Subfamilies, Genera, and Species, arranged in the same simple manner as those published in the "Shore Birds," and which will enable anyone with a little patience to ascertain to what species an unfamiliar example may belong. Excepting perhaps the Ptarmigan, the various species of gallinaceous birds are more easily recognized from each other, in illustrations printed only in black and white, than are those of the "Shore Birds," and the various Keys will be found perhaps less necessary, and only really required in the cases of the group above mentioned, or in closely allied species of Prairie Grouse. The author's experience among the game birds has been very extensive, gained from a familiar acquaintance with them in their haunts extending over many years. With a few exceptions, he has observed all the species contained in this book in the various localities they frequent throughout North America, and in the proper season representatives of most of them have fallen to his gun. Unlike the majority of the "Shore Birds," omitting a few species and those mainly among the Ptarmigan, Partridges and Grouse breed within the limits of the United States, and their habits in the nesting season can be observed by anyone who may be suffciently interested to visit those parts of our country in which the birds are to be found."

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Catalogue Of The Game Birds (Pterocletes, Gallinae, Opisthocomi, Hemipodii) In The Collection Of The British Museum

Catalogue Of The Birds In The British Museum, Volume XXII

W.R. Ogilvie-Grant

Colour plates: J.G. Keulemans (4), J. Smit (4)

Printed By Order Of The Trustees

Sold by: Longman & Co.; B. Quaritch; Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.; and at the British Museum (Natural History)

1893

Preface:

"The present volume treats of four Orders of Birds, constituting the greater bulk of what are commonly termed Game Birds. The numbers of species described and of specimens at present in the Collection are as follows: Pterocletes, 17; Gallinie, 384; Opisthocomi, 1; Hemipodii, 24. In the first category those forms are included to which, in the author's opinion, no higher than subspecific rank should be assigned; only 23 of these species and subspecies are still unrepresented in the Collection. Beside the 102 types of recognized species the Collection contains 50 other typical specimens which are now considered identical with previously named species."
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Last updated October 2013