Quail - Quail And People
birds male oxford species
Most species of quail are economically important as game birds and are hunted for sport or as source of wild meat. However, quail are easily over-hunted, so it is important to conserve their populations.
Quail are also kept in captivity in zoos, parks, and private aviaries, although this is somewhat less common than with pheasants and peafowl, which are larger, more colorful birds.
Unfortunately, some species of quail are becoming endangered in their native habitats. This is partly due to excessive hunting, but more important in many cases are losses of the natural habitat of these birds. These ecological changes are largely due to agricultural conversions of natural habitats that quail require, and to other human influences.
Resources
Books
Alderton, D. The Atlas of Quails. Neptune City, NJ: TFH Publications, 1992.
Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Forshaw, Joseph. Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Academic Press, 1998.
Johnsgard, P.A. Quails, Partridges, and Francolins of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Bill Freedman
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