The Cyrtonyx montezumae or the Montezuma Quail is a rather unique bird. And the reason for this is because when this animal see’s danger it crouches on the ground. If the predator still comes for this bird it will leap in the air with extreme power, enough to send it 2 meters in the air. Then the bird will come down with a sharp kick to the head knocking the predator down. 

   
The Montezumae Quail is considered an omnivore because it eats meat and plants. The nest that the Montezumae Quail makes is not on a tree like most birds put their nests at. The Montezumae Quail makes its nest on the ground where it can find food for its babies. The nest can also hold up to 15 eggs. The reason why the nest is on the floor is because this bird is considered a “ground forager”. On average this bird is around 7.9 inches to 9.1 inches. This bird makes a living by living in Oak Savannas or Oak Pine Woodlands. The Montezumae Quail is usually found around the Sierra Madre Mountains that briefly extends to the U.S.A.

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The populations of the Montezumae Quail are in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The conservation status on this bird is at least concern. But as for the population it is tricky to pinpoint roughly how many Montezuma Quails are there in the 3 states that they are hunted in.

   
The Montezuma Quail’s diet consisted of  Gray’s Woodsorrel, Yellow Nutsedge, Oak acorns, Whitemouth dayflower, Piñon pine. The Montezuma Quail are usually attacked by birds. Such as the Cooper’s hawk, Northern Harriers, Prairie falcons, Harris hawks, Swainson’s hawks, Great-Horned owls, and Greater roadrunners.

   
Overall my favorite thing about the Montezuma Quail is when it attacks. And the reason for this is because it can jump up extremely high for its height and it can land down on its enemy with extreme force.

 

Author: Alan N 

Date: February 2, 2014

 

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montezuma_Quail

               http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cyrtonyx_montezumae/

Picture: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cyrtonyx_montezumae/pictures/collections/contributors/d_chalfant/pcd3910_100/

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