About Blue Scale Quail, Blue Scale Quail is a type of bird native to the Texas Gulf Coast. The Blue Scale Quail is commonly spotted near water.
But it can also be found in other areas like agr, very similar in appearance to Gambel’s Quail, another type of bird native to the Texas Gulf Coast.
How To Identify Blue Scale Quail?
Several characteristics can help you identify the Blue Scale Quail. First and foremost, the adult male and female will have a darker brown color than the juvenile male and female.
Another feature that may help identify is the heavily barred or spotted pattern on the male chest feathers. There is often a band of black feathers that goes from the throat to tail feather base on both males and females.
Finally, if you look at their head, you will notice that their eye rings are red, not yellow. cultural fields and prairies.
Blue Scale Quail are brown and gray on their back with black-dotted white feathers on their chest. The feathers on their head are light brown with dark speckles, and they have a red eyering.
Females generally have a greyish cast, while males are more uniformly dark brown.
Males and females also show some differences in their coloring as they mature. Adult males are a darker brown than adult females, which may be a primary reason the males are more commonly hunted.
Blue Scale Quail is a medium-size quail species, with males growing to be 6-7 inches tall while females are slightly shorter at 5-6 inches.
The body length of both genders is around 10 inches from their beak to their tail feathers. Compared to other quail species that can weigh up to 12 ounces, the Blue Scale quail weighs about 3 ounces.
Blue Scale Quail is native only to the Texas Gulf Coast and can be found in open fields, agricultural lands, and prairies.
Characteristics Of Blue Scale Quail
Here Are The Best 10 Characteristics Of Blue Scale Quail
1. Their body is covered with white and black-spotted feathers on their chest, while they have a brown back with black dots.
2. The males and females look similar, but the males are darker in coloration than the female.
3. Males have a darker brown color than females.
4. Blue Scale Quail can fly well in short distances and take flight quickly when they are startled by predators or humans present.
5. These quails are native only to the Texas Gulf Coast, but they can be found in open fields, agricultural lands, and prairies.
6. The females take no part in raising the young, but the males will stay with them until they are ready to leave.
7. The males and females have slightly different diets, as the males prefer insects while the females prefer seeds, buds, and leaves.
8. They will usually leave their nest soon after hatching, whether there is food or water nearby or not.
9. The adult female is larger than the male and often weighs more than 3 ounces.
10. The males tend to be hunted as a food source, while the females are rarely hunted for food. Their feathers are used in some fashion by many native cultures around the Houston area.
Quick Fact Of Blue Scale Quail
| Name | Blue Scale Quail |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Callaeidae |
| Description | Hens and chicks are spotted rather than brown with black bars. |
| Size | 15-22 cm (6-9 in) |
| Habitat | Open woodlands, cultivation, orchards, and undergrowth of shrubs; 100 m (300 ft) elevation. |
| Preferred Food | Seeds, grasses, and insects. |
Interesting Facts Of Blue Scale Quail
- Feeds on insects, spiders, and seeds.
- Breeds in summer so that the young can fly within 30 days.
- Abundant and active throughout the year.
- Nesting associations with other birds like Nighthawks, Cowbirds, Wood Ducks, Black Vultures, or Red-tailed Hawks.
The Behavior Of Blue Scale Quail
Blue Scale Quail can fly short distances and take flight quickly when startled by predators or humans present.
They may be hunted for their feathers or even for a meal.
Their diet consists of seeds, leaves, and buds from plants along the ground.
Their claws are not suited to dig but rather grasp and nip at food items.
The male and female bond strongly. Hens lay eggs in the nests that the males build high up off of the ground.
When they leave their nests, they will do so quickly, even if there is no food or water nearby.
The males will stay with them until they are ready to leave, but the females do not take part in raising the young.
Habited of living in open fields and agricultural lands as well as prairies.
The female will nest on the ground and lay between 7 to 12 eggs in a single go that is buff or tan colored.
Blue Scale Quail Conservation Status
The Blue Scale Quail is not on the endangered list, and they have a healthy population that is estimated to be between 800,000 to 1 million birds.
The conservation status of this bird is currently “Least Concern” because of the healthy numbers that they have worldwide.
How Can You Protect Blue Scale Quail?
While the Blue Scale Quail is not endangered, many people still hunt them.
Protecting their numbers is by limiting their hunting and discouraging people from donating to quail hunt tournaments.
Several strategies have been used to try and protect this species since it was introduced to Texas.
These include habitat preservation, population numbers, and even protection against predators like feral cats that may affect the bird’s survival rate.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has worked to establish appropriate breeding grounds for the native quail to protect the Blue Scale Quail.
Across many of these habitats, there are often limits on how many quail can be hunted at a time or even daily limits.
How Long Does It Take Blue Scale Quail Eggs To Hatch?
It takes only 18 days for the Blue Scale Quail eggs to hatch. The female begins to lay eggs once a week.
When it comes time to incubate them, they are left in the nest by the male and do not even have to be turned around. The young quail can leave the nest after just 3 days, even without food or water.
Blue Scale Quail eggs are usually broken out of their shells by cold weather or predators such as foxes and raccoons.
Feeding
Grit is something that you should provide your Blue Scale Quail with regularly to help them grind up their food easier.
If the quail feeders you have bought for your birds are made of metal, you may want to treat them with sandpaper to keep the food from sticking.
What did Do Baby Quails eat?
While the Blue Scale Quail eggs can only be kept in the nest for a few days while still warm, they need to be turned weekly, just like chicken eggs.
Use
The information in this article is to avoid buying quail eggs that are not from native species. Blue Scale Quail are very easy to breed and are fantastic pets for children.
You can make it so that the quail get enough food but are not molested or hunted by predators or humans.
Special Notes
Many Blue Scale Quails have been quite common in certain Texas and the surrounding areas. However, they are now starting to become rarer.
Here are some more intensive facts about this species of quail. The Blue Scale Quail is being raised as a food source and are available commercially in more than just the United States.
The eggs of this bird can be purchased at grocery stores and by mail order, and they have become very popular around the world.
Conclusion
Blue Scale Quail is one of the most popular quails anyone can raise and keep in their back yards.
Even if you want to buy the adult Blue Scale Quail, they are available on many auction sites around the internet.
Blue Scale Quail make great pets, they are much quieter than chickens or other common fowl, and they don’t even have claws. I hope you enjoyed this article about the Blue Scale Quail. Thank you for reading This article.
