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United States Department of Agriculture 
Bureau of Biological Survey 
Wildlife Research and Manegement Leaflet BS-84 
Washington, D. C. * March 1937 
FOOD OF THe SCALED OQUATT 
(Preliminary Report) 
By Leon H. Kelso, Junior Biologist, Section of Food Habits 
Division of Wildlife Research 
Contents 
Page Page 
MPO CWC GOR. 4. sels oie 6° Sood iL Comparison with food of 
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Viezeteple matters ci) 0... : 3 SRCUSM SD AS Cie Cees OOuCO MG 
Prine MENG GOL eines « «5 : 6 ihatereturerextede . aes sie 50 ye 
MOG Or YOUNES. hte. sl aes . 6 
INTRODUCTION 
The scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), also called blue quail, 
cotton top, and wnite topknot, is one of the most interesting game birds 
Bae 4 of the Southwestern States, Although in some quarters its value es a 
a sporting bird has been questioned, because it does not lie well to dogs 
and evoids intruders by running rather than by flying, its local abundance 
and wide distribution, as well as its use as a tabie delicacy, make it 
desirable to give full consideration to its food requirements, Even 
greater possibilities for the bird may be found when its life history and 
amenability to game management heve been theroughly worked out. 
The scaled quail may be recognized in the field by the following 
characters: In size and shape it is similar to the bobwhite quail, being 
9 1/2 to 12 inches long; it is mostly bluish or slaty gray in color, and 
hes a short, pointed, erect crest of white-tipped feathers. Cleser inspection 
