Skip to main content

FRAMES logo
Resource Catalog

Document

Type: Conference Paper
Author(s): J. T. Baccus
Editor(s): Stephan J. DeMaso; William P. Kuvlesky; Fidel Hernandez; M. E. Berger
Publication Date: 2002

Estimating abundance of forest quail in Mexico offers unique challenges to wildlife managers. Unlike quail inhabiting grassland, forest quail are often cryptic, live in inaccessible mountainous areas, and unpredictably respond to playback census techniques. During 1996-1999, we estimated abundance of singing quail (Dactylortyx thoracicus) and bearded wood quail (Dendrortyx barbatus) in northeast Mexico. Singing quail were visually counted at El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas, along 14 transects varying in length from 1,400 to 5,000 m. Because of the cryptic nature of bearded wood quail, visual counts proved unsuccessful in estimating abundance. Therefore, a tape recording of their chorus call was used to determine presence. Vocalizing wood quail were documented at 10 stations on a single 1,000 m transect near Coatepec, Veracruz. Because of the varied habitat types in the area total population estimates were not estimated. Only the numbers present along our transect are reported. Estimates of abundance of singing quail were obtained due to the homogenous habitat. Density estimates from Ejido Lazaro Cardenas for singing quail were 56 quail/45.4 ha (1 quail/0.8 ha). Density estimates for La Cueva were 30 quail/15.9 ha (1 quail/0.53 ha). The management of these quail species presents a substantial challenge for biologists, because of the difficulty in obtaining population estimates. The number of wood quail estimated by each responding individual to the chorus call and possible seasonal elevation shifts of singing quail should be considered when estimates of abundance are used to set harvest regulations. © 2002, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Abstract reproduced by permission.

Online Links
Citation: Baccus, J. T. 2002. Management implications of estimating abundance of quail species inhabiting forest environs in Mexico, in DeMaso, S. J., Kuvlesky, W. P., Hernandez, F., and Berger, M. E., Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium. Corpus Christi, TX. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,Austin, TX. p. 201-205, http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/quail5.html.

Cataloging Information

Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    International    National
Keywords:
  • abundance
  • beared wood quail
  • conservation
  • Dactylortyx thoracicus
  • Dendrortyx
  • Dendrortyx barbatus
  • elevation
  • estimating numbers
  • fire dependent species
  • forest management
  • game birds
  • habitat types
  • Mexico
  • Mexico
  • playback
  • population density
  • singing quail
  • strip
  • Texas
  • wildlife
  • wildlife habitat management
  • wildlife management
  • wood
Tall Timbers Record Number: 21989Location Status: In-fileAbstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 46289

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.